Briefly: Mexican girl, 12, dies in accident

A 12-year-old Mexican girl died Tuesday after being ejected from a vehicle Monday morning on Interstate 19 near Ruby Road in Rio Rico, the Arizona Department of Public Safety reported.

A family of five from Hermosillo, Sonora, was traveling north on I-19 around 11:30 a.m. Monday when its 2003 Ford Expedition, driven by David Alfonso Worley, 44, started hydroplaning.

The SUV flipped into the median, ejecting the girl and another passenger, both of whom were not wearing seat belts.

Four of the passengers were treated at a Nogales hospital and released.

The girl, Mariane Worley Cortez, was taken to a Tucson hospital, where she died at 3:12 p.m. Tuesday.

The accident closed the northbound lanes of the freeway for 90 minutes. Cars were rerouted onto the Frontage Road.

Ex-Treasury secretary to speak on Lincoln Day

A former Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration will be keynote speaker for a Southern Pima County Republican luncheon, Saturday, Feb. 16.

Reservation deadline for the Lincoln Day luncheon is Saturday, Feb. 9.

The speaker is Angela “Bay” Buchanan, who has also served as manager for the presidential campaign of her brother, Pat Buchanan.

Among other speakers expected is state Sen. Tim Bee, who’s running for Congress from Arizona’s 8th district.

Cathy Graf, president of the Southern Pima Arizona Republican Club, SPARC, said Buchanan brings “an eclectic background with a wealth of insight into Republican politics.”

The event is planned for 11 a.m., at the Desert Diamond Casino, I-19 and Pima Mine Road.

Graf said the Lincoln Day event is the unofficial kick-off for this year’s election cycle. Proceeds will help fund SPARC’s headquarters’ activities.

Tickets are $35 a person and space is limited so reservations need to be made soon, said Graf.

For more information, call her at 625-1742.

East-side frontage road subject of meeting today

The Arizona Department of Transportation will hold another open house at 3 p.m. today to discuss the planned improvements of the I-19 frontage roads.

The meeting is scheduled for the American Legion Post 66 building, 1560 West Duval Rd.

There’ll be a presentation at 3:30 and staff members and representatives of the consulting firm, Kimley-Horn, will be available to take questions.

Most of the interest in the Green Valley area deals with the proposed extension of the east frontage road connecting Continental Road to Arivaca Junction-Amado.

jbennett@gvnews.com | 547-9740

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749