A 23-year-old man has died after a single-vehicle rollover crash that occurred on the north side of Tucson in the early hours of April 12. Police identified the driver as Angel Said Matuz Barrera; he succumbed to his injuries several days after the wreck.
According to the police account, the crash happened at about 1:30 a.m. as the Chevrolet Silverado driven by Barrera entered the curve where eastbound West Miracle Mile becomes southbound North Oracle Road. The pickup reportedly slid sideways, struck a raised median and rolled over multiple times.
Officers say Barrera was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. Because of the severity of his injuries, investigators were unable to complete an impairment evaluation at the scene. Police also noted that the driver did not have a valid driver’s license.
A female passenger in the truck, whose name has not been released, was treated for minor injuries and released. Police have not released additional details about the passenger’s condition or whether any charges are being considered as the investigation continues.
Investigators are continuing their work to determine the crash’s contributing factors. Authorities typically encourage anyone who witnessed the crash or who has relevant video to come forward to help with the inquiry; those with information are asked to contact the police department. This incident underscores the risks of nighttime driving, navigating curves at speed and the life-saving role seatbelts play in collisions.