Authorities have identified a Southern California woman who died in a three-vehicle collision involving two semi-trucks in downtown Kingman, Arizona, earlier this week.
The crash happened on May 18 in the 1100 block of West Beale Street, several blocks west of the Interstate 40 overpass. Emergency crews responded to the scene at approximately 10:48 a.m., according to the Kingman Police Department.
Victim
Police identified the woman killed in the collision as 78-year-old Judy Shirley of Downey, California.
Authorities said Shirley was a passenger in a white Audi sedan that became trapped between two semi-tractor trailers during the crash.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her husband, an 82-year-old man who was driving the Audi, suffered serious injuries and was transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center for treatment.
| Crash Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Judy Shirley |
| Age | 78 |
| Hometown | Downey, California |
| Date of Crash | May 18 |
| Location | West Beale Street, Kingman |
| Vehicles Involved | Two semi-trucks and one Audi sedan |
Collision
According to Kingman Police Chief Rusty Cooper, the preliminary investigation indicates that a black semi-truck traveling eastbound failed to stop for slowing traffic in an area affected by construction congestion.
Investigators said the semi-truck, driven by a 34-year-old man from Nevada, struck the rear of the Audi sedan after traffic had slowed ahead.
“The semi-truck struck a white Audi four-door sedan that had slowed for traffic ahead,” Cooper said in a statement.
Police said the impact pushed the Audi forward into a second semi-truck that had already stopped in traffic.
The Audi became trapped between the two large commercial vehicles during the collision.
Investigation
Authorities said there were no immediate signs of impairment involving the Nevada truck driver.
As of the latest update, investigators had not announced any criminal charges or traffic citations connected to the crash.
The investigation remains ongoing as officers continue reviewing evidence and the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Police have not released additional details regarding traffic conditions, vehicle speeds, or possible contributing factors beyond the construction-related congestion in the area.
Traffic
The crash occurred in an active construction zone where traffic was reportedly moving slowly at the time of the incident.
Construction-related traffic backups can create sudden stopping conditions, especially on busy roadways used by commercial vehicles and interstate traffic.
West Beale Street serves as a major route through Kingman and connects to Interstate 40, one of the busiest transportation corridors in the Southwest.
Accidents involving semi-trucks often result in severe damage due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles compared to passenger cars.
Safety
Transportation safety experts frequently warn drivers to maintain additional following distance in construction zones and congested traffic conditions, particularly when operating large trucks.
According to federal highway safety data, rear-end collisions involving commercial vehicles can become especially dangerous when traffic slows unexpectedly near work zones.
Officials have not indicated whether road construction itself directly contributed to the crash beyond creating traffic congestion.
Next
The Kingman Police Department continues investigating the incident and may release additional findings as the review progresses.
No further information about the condition of Judy Shirley’s husband had been publicly released as of the latest update.
For now, investigators are focused on determining the full sequence of events that led to the fatal collision in downtown Kingman.
FAQs
Who died in the Kingman crash?
Judy Shirley of Downey, California.
How many vehicles were involved?
Three vehicles were involved in the collision.
Where did the crash happen?
On West Beale Street in Kingman, Arizona.
Was the truck driver impaired?
Police found no signs of impairment.
Are charges being filed?
No charges were announced initially.
