Goodyear bicycle crash that killed 2 not caused by faulty brakes or steering wheel
A crash investigative report from the National Transportation Safety Board found there were no issues with the steering wheel in a February 2023 bike crash in Goodyear that killed two and injured another 19 cyclists.
During a ride organized by local bike group West Valley Cycle, 26-year-old Pedro Quintana-Lujan crashed his truck into the cyclists on Cotton Lane Bridge, killing Karen Malisa, 61, and David Kero, 65. At the time, Quintana-Lujan told police that his steering wheel had locked.
In November, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office concluded that there wasn't enough evidence to pursue a felony conviction, passing the case back to the Goodyear City Prosecutor. Consequently, Quintana-Lujan will avoid facing felony charges.
But NTSB investigators concluded the steering wheel was functional. The report did not explicitly state the cause of the crash.
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According to the NTSB report, which was completed earlier this month, investigators saw a mechanic drive the pickup without issues with the steering wheel or brakes.
The steering system was also functional, with no damage found. All the tires were also inspected, and there were no issues found with any of them.
According to the report, a March 31 inspection from the Arizona Department of Public Safety also found the truck was safe to drive prior to the crash.
In an email to The Arizona Republic, Goodyear Police Department Sgt. Sean Tyler said the police department's own investigation aligns with the same data and has been shared with prosecutors. The entire case will be reviewed for charging based on the totality of the circumstances, which includes the report, Tyler said. The case has already been submitted to the Goodyear's Prosecutor's Office.
"At the moment, we do not know what charges may be submitted. We won't be able to provide additional information on why one charge over another may have been pursued until the trial is complete," Tyler said.
A spokesperson for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said the NTSB report aligns with its own evaluation of the case.
According to the report, Quintana-Lujan had a small amount of THC in his system, which is associated with cannabis. He told investigators he had used cannabis prior to 9 p.m. the evening before the crash. A police drug recognition expert said the driver was not visibly intoxicated. It was later determined that he was not under the influence while driving. He also said he did not feel tired.
The report cites studies that state that acute cannabis intoxication may moderately increase the risk of a vehicle accident, while some studies say it may double the risk. Cannabis may also contribute to drowsiness, according to the report. And while impairment is usually back to normal after 3-7 hours, some residual effects may be present. The NTSB noted, however, that the science is still incomplete.
In Arizona, cannabis use is permitted to those 21 and older, although the law prohibits driving while impaired even slightly, according to the report. The law is murky on how that's proven.
David Herzog, organizer of West Valley Cycle, said he wasn’t surprised at the report’s results. The results validate that the driver can’t blame the crash on the vehicle malfunctioning, Herzog said.
Herzog said whether or not the steering wheel was locked isn’t the core of the matter, although he would like to see Arizona have stricter laws when it comes to the safety of cyclists.
In Arizona, it is legal for bicycles to ride in traffic lanes so long as they adhere to the same laws as cars.
All or part of Cotton Lane Bridge is classified as a bike lane.
"The signage on Cotton Lane just before the bridge is inconsistent with the county's classification, as the closest sign on the southbound lanes was just before MC-85 and was marked as Bike Lane Ends. No other signs were observed on South Cotton Lane until after the bridge," the NTSB found.
Herzog said he’s focusing his energy on moving on, as opposed to continuing to be angry at the situation.
On Feb. 25, West Valley Cycle held a memorial ride exactly one year after the crash. Nearly 240 people showed up, which is a high turnout for the group. People came from out of state as well, Herzog said.
“We had a good bonding throughout our group, and it's gotten tenfold stronger since this accident," Herzog said.
Reach the reporter at ahardle@gannett.com or by phone at 480-259-8545. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @AlexandraHardle.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fatal Goodyear bicycle crash not caused by faulty steering wheel
