UPDATE: Crash on Highway 89 in Paulden leaves one person dead

An early morning crash on Highway 89 in Paulden Wednesday, Sept. 27, involving a cement tanker and a sedan left one person dead, said Bart Graves, media relations specialist for the Department of Public Safety.

Graves added that the fatality was in the passenger vehicle.

The crash happened just before 6 a.m. Highway 89 was closed in both directions from Old Highway 89 to Sweet Valley Road but reopened around 9:56 a.m., Graves said. The crash occurred at milepost 336.

According to Graves, a Hyundai Elantra was traveling southbound, approaching milepost 336 on the highway and the tanker was traveling northbound also approaching milepost 336. A witness following behind the tanker told investigating troopers the passenger vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with the truck.

The driver of the Hyundai Elantra, Ryan Greenleaf, 29, was pinned in the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, Graves stated. adding that the driver side air bag deployed and the seat belt was not in use. The collision was on the left front corners and the vehicles continued past one another in a side-swipe manner.

The driver of the tanker was not injured.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) and Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA) were also on hand.