UPDATE 10:55 a.m.
The interim complaint on the crash that killed five people paints a more detailed picture of what happened.
At approximately 4:42 p.m., DPS Sergeant S. Boothe observed Pavolka allegedly driving through a red light at Camino Verde and Ajo, just east of where the crash took place, going 85 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone, the complaint said. Boothe was parked on the shoulder completing a traffic stop.
A dashcam video from another driver showed Pavolka driving at a high rate of speed and passing traffic on the shoulder, the complaint said. Video from the same driver, a short time later, showed Pavolka's car facing east in the westbound lanes at Ajo and San Joaquin and the SUV engulfed in flames, with citizens attempting to rescue the occupants, the complaint said.
A witness who was behind the SUV, preparing to turn left onto Ajo, said the SUV entered the intersection to make the left turn, when the Toyota entered the intersection at a high rate of speed and hit the SUV, the complaint said. The SUV immediately caught fire.
The witness pulled Pavolka from her vehicle and to a safe location, then went to help remove the occupants of the SUV. After his attempts, he turned his attention back toward Pavolka, who had gotten up and was walking back toward the scene of the collision, the complaint said. He then witnessed a Sheriff's deputy take her into custody.
Pavolka was assessed on the scene and transferred to Banner University Medical Center Main. The complaint said Pavolka admitted to a deputy that she was the one driving the vehicle involved in the crash.
In an interview conducted by DPS at the hospital, Pavolka said she did not remember anything about the crash or anything leading up to the crash, the complaint said. She said she did not have a specific destination while she was driving, but that she was "just driving," the complaint said
She talked about her job, and her animals being left unattended. She said she couldn't provide specifics regarding the collision.
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UPDATE 10:35 a.m. 10/23
The Arizona Department of Public Safety identified the driver of the Toyota passenger car as 33-year-old Malyn Christine Pavolka.
She is being charged with five counts of manslaughter and is being held on $1 million bond.
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UPDATE 6:30 p.m.
KGUN 9's Eddie Celaya spoke to Bart Graves of the Arizona Department of Public Safety about the crash on the west side that left five occupants of one vehicle dead following a Monday afternoon crash:
UPDATE 9:23 a.m.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety has provided more detailed information on the crash via email.
According to the email, the crash occurred at about 4:42 p.m. on westbound State Route 86, milepost 163 near San Joaquin Road.
A Toyota passenger car, heading westbound on SR-86, ran a red light at San Joaquin Road, striking the left side of a Nissan SUV. The impact pushed the SUV into the median, where it burst into flames, the email said.
All five occupants of the SUV died at the scene.
The driver of the Toyota was transported to a hospital, the email said. The Toyota was observed traveling recklessly leading up to the crash, the email said. Impairment is suspected, the email said.
Detectives are withholding the victims' identities pending their confirmation by the medical examiner.
The investigation is ongoing.
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UPDATE 3A.M. — DPS tells KGUN9 the road is reopen this morning.
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Five people are dead after a crash west of Camino Verde on Ajo.
The crash involved a head-on collision between two vehicles.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, State Route 86 will be closed indefinitely.
Information is limited at this time, and an investigation is ongoing.
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