Penske truck driver arrested, accused of manslaughter in Surprise crash on Grand Avenue
SURPRISE, Ariz. - A driver was arrested following a deadly multi-vehicle crash that closed Grand Avenue in both directions in Surprise.
Crash involved four vehicles
According to Bart Graves of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the crash happened at 11:03 a.m. on Apr. 4 in the southbound lanes of U.S. 60 (Grand Avenue), at 163rd Avenue.
"A Penske box truck collided with a Toyota passenger vehicle injuring two people inside the vehicle. The force of the impact pushed the Toyota sedan into the desert. The truck then struck a Nissan Altima sedan killing the lone driver. A semi truck then came along and struck the Penske box truck," said Graves.
On April 5, DPS officials identified the Nissan Altima driver as 69-year-old Jeffrey Hilbert of Wickenburg.
Dewey Sigler, 57, was arrested in connection to a four-vehicle crash on Grand Avenue that left one person dead in Surprise.
The type of injuries regarding the occupants of the Toyota are not known at this time.
The crash closed portion of Grand Avenue for hours, leaving some motorists stranded.
"I’ve been out here for an hour. I’m trying to get my son from school, and I’m stuck," said Denise Aranda.
"We're from Washington state. We're trying to make it a surprise birthday party. I don't think we're going to make it," said Dean Pederson.
Suspect identified
In court documents we obtained, the suspect is identified as 57-year-old Dewey Franklin Sigler.
Sigler, according to investigators, was arrested at the scene, but he later complained of a possible heart attack, and was taken to Banner Thunderbird Medical Center.
"A personal bag, which Sigler was carrying, contained approximately 30 pills, presumably fentanyl," read a portion of the court documents. "Sigler stated to hospital staff that he uses approximately 10 fentanyl pills daily."
Sigler reportedly displayed erratic behavior while at the hospital and a toxicology report showed a presumptive positive for methamphetamine in Sigler's urine. Blood and drug tests for Sigler are still pending.
Investigators say Sigler was booked into jail upon being released from the hospital. He is accused of manslaughter and drug charges. He is being held on a $500,000 bond.
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