An Indiana man lost his life this week when he jumped out of a truck that lost its brakes on I-17 in Arizona.
The incident happened on Wednesday, June 20, at noon, just south of Camp Verde, according to the Daily Courier.
One person killed in semi-truck crash on I-17 https://t.co/ekfTNbC6Qx
— Copper Canyon Fire (@CC_FMA) June 21, 2018
The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) says that two people were inside a truck that was hauling a load of garlic northbound on I-17 around mile marker 283 when the truck’s brakes failed on a steep grade.
The two men, unable to regain control of the truck, made the decision to try to leap to safety. From Arizona DPS Public Information officer Kameron Lee: “As the truck approached a curve, the driver and passenger both jumped from the moving truck. The runaway truck continued for approximately a 1/4 mile before overturning onto its right side in the median.”
Indiana resident Johnathon Hardaway, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 25 year old Indiana man who was behind the wheel at the time of the crash suffered non life-threatening injuries.
The Copper Canyon Fire and Medical Authority says that the truck crashed just a mile away from the nearest runway truck ramp.
I-17 was not completely reopened until 1 a.m. on Thursday.
The Copper Canyon Fire Department responded to the incident. They later tweeted out “We would like to remind everyone to please use precautions when descending down Copper Canyon.”