PAYSON, AZ — A Scottsdale man has been arrested in connection to a crash last week on State Route 87 north of Payson that killed three people.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said just before 9 p.m. on Friday, April 16, a white Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by 49-year-old James Duncan of Scottsdale, was heading southbound on SR 87 and crossed the center line, driving into northbound traffic.
Duncan's truck sideswiped a red Dodge Ram pickup and a white Ford Explorer that were both traveling northbound.
Another white Ford F-150 pickup truck, driven by 38-year-old Latissia Morris, was traveling southbound on SR-87 when it also collided with Duncan’s truck.
DPS says Duncan was taken to a Phoenix-area hospital with serious injuries.
The passenger in Duncan’s vehicle, identified as 54-year-old Georgia Burnside of Payson, was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
Morris, from San Tan Valley, was taken to a Phoenix-area hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead.
Morris’s 15-year-old son was ejected from their truck and did not survive.
Officials say the drivers and passengers of the other two vehicles were not hurt.
On Tuesday, DPS troopers arrested Duncan for three counts of manslaughter, five counts of endangerment and DUI-related charges. He has been booked into the Maricopa County Jail.
