A just-released investigative report reveals new details in a wrong-way crash near Holbrook that killed two people and injured five others, including members of a youth group returning home from church camp.
In June, the deadly crash occurred along Interstate 40 east of Holbrook in the middle of the afternoon.
Authorities say 72-year-old Craig Allen, from Sun Valley, was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes when he crashed into a passenger van. Both Allen and the driver of the van, 35-year-old Kayleen Candelaria, died in the crash.
Candelaria was part of a large group returning to New Season Christian Fellowship in Apache Junction after spending time at a church camp in Oklahoma. Allen also died in the crash.
A newly released report by the Arizona Department of Public Safety sheds light on what led up to the crash.
According to the report, Allen's neighbor told investigators Allen lived alone and was in poor health and suffered from dementia. That same neighbor told authorities in the days prior to the crash, he had found Allen in his driveway in a dazed and confused state. The neighbor indicated he worried Allen's mental heath was deteriorating.
ABC15 is working to figure out if Allen was even legally allowed to drive.
According to toxicology results, Allen also had several substances in his system, including Oxycodone.
A youth pastor at New Season Christian Fellowship tells ABC15 the surviving victims are recovering from a varying degree of injuries.
A fundraiser is scheduled to take place Saturday for two of the victims.
