APACHE JUNCTION, AZ — A mother was killed and her daughter was hurt in a wrong-way crash on US 60 in the East Valley Saturday night.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officials say they were initially alerted to a blue pick-up truck driving aggressively through traffic around 9:30 p.m. Shortly after, officials said they received reports that the vehicle was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes. About 10 minutes after that report, callers began informing DPS the truck had turned around and was now driving westbound in the eastbound lanes.
As the truck was in the eastbound lanes, it collided with an SUV head-on near Mountain View Road.
In the SUV were a mother and her 7-year-old daughter, according to DPS. They were both taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
The mother, identified as 28-year-old Elizabeth McAloon of Apache Junction, was later pronounced dead at the hospital. According to court documents, the woman and child were heading home from church when the crash occurred.
If there’s one thing to know about McAloon, it’s her loyalty to her faith and her immense love for her family.
“She would always put 100% into it whether it was the kids, me or the church. You never had to ask her to try hard or do anything. You always knew she was trying her best,” said McAloon's husband Nick.
“Devastating is not even the right word. It was completely shocking,” added Julia Bourque, McAloon's cousin.
The man driving the truck, 37-year-old Adam Parker from Peoria, was also taken to the hospital with serious injuries but he has since been released and booked into a Pinal County jail.
During the initial investigation, police found open alcohol containers in the truck, according to a police report which also stated that Parker's blood sample indicated his BAC was 0.263.
His charges include second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and child abuse.
McAloon's family is pleading with those who drink to never drive and find another way home.
“I had two police come knock on my door in the middle of the night to come tell me that she was in an accident, and I don’t think anybody should ever have to go through something like that,” Nick said.
They’re also thanking the community for the outpouring of support following Elizabeth’s passing. Bourque started a GoFundMe for the family and already they’ve raised almost $30,000 since its posting.
“I wasn’t expecting this much support living out here by ourselves for as long as we have,” Nick said. “We didn't realize our support system was so strong. It means a lot to us.”
For Nick, as he works to stay strong for his children, he’ll never forget his wife’s beautiful smile and the love she shared with everyone she knew.
“She was easy to love. And she would make anybody feel special when you're around her,” he said.
Their seven-year-old daughter is now out of the hospital and recovering at home.
