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GV man, 80, dies as crashes close I-19

The body of a driver is next to a vehicle on Interstate 19 on Tuesday. The driver died in the one-car rollover.

By Jaime Richardson, Green Valley News

Published: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 6:46 PM MST

A Green Valley man died Tuesday in a one-vehicle rollover that led to two more accidents that closed northbound Interstate 19 for three hours.

Harry Conner, 80, was southbound on I-19 just south of Duval Mine Road shortly before noon when he apparently lost control of his vehicle and crossed into the northbound lanes before ending up on a frontage road at Duval Road.

The vehicle rolled and Conner, who was wearing a seat belt, was ejected. He was dead at the scene, a Department of Public Safety spokesman said.

About 25 minutes later, Sasha Blate, 22, of Green Valley swerved to avoid traffic that had slowed for the accident and hit a guard rail. She was taken to a Tucson hospital with chest pains.

Less than five minutes later, a third accident occurred in the northbound lanes near the original crash scene when a delivery truck hit a pickup then the back of a semi, according to Battalion Chief Brian Wilford of the Green Valley Fire District.

He said the driver of the box truck, Daniel Montoya, 24, of Sahuarita, had to be extricated and was taken to University Medical Center in Tucson.

Northbound traffic was diverted off the interstate at Esperanza Boulevard until just before 3 p.m., when the interstate was reopened.

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726


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Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of gvnews.com.

Kelly wrote on Jun 30, 2009 3:38 PM:

" I'm extremely disappointed with the Green Valley News in posting that picture. It is beyond inappropriate and indecent. Use a photo of the line of cars backed up from the accident, or some police cars. We don't need to see a dead body next to a car to get the point of the story across.

Also, the caption with the photo is inconsiderate to what happened. Don't tell us a dead body is next to a car.

You guys need to rethink how you convey news.

Think of the family and the still unidentified victim of the accident. "

George wrote on Jun 30, 2009 4:36 PM:

" It seems an editor already listened to Kelly's plea. At this point they are running a pix with the victim's body covered. With the cover in place, the cut line become appropriate. "

Madison wrote on Jun 30, 2009 5:46 PM:

" Excellent point Kelly, I concur! I couldnt have said it better myself! "

Doris wrote on Jun 30, 2009 6:54 PM:

" Perhaps we need more graphic pictures to show people the consequences of reckless driving. I saw nothing indecent about the covered body. I was in that pile-up and narrowly escaped being rear-ended by a jack-knifing truck trailer. He got his trailer under control within inches of my car. I saw the trailer in my rear view mirror and pulled as far to the side of the road as possible. If I hadn't seen it in time, my photo might be here! Keep reporting the news. "

Mauna loa wrote on Jul 1, 2009 5:49 AM:

" No, there should be a picture, Good job News. You sycophants have no idea how many accidents you cause. For every teenager on a cell phone that causes an accident, and elderly driver causes ten, YES TEN. IF you don’t believe me look it up. However, there in no way the politicians are going to ask the elderly to turn in their license. Remember when that elderly driver thought he was going the wrong way on I-19 about a year ago, and turned around which also caused a Death. Unreal. Everybody over 65 should be required to pass a driver’s test yearly. Yeah I said it. "

Angie wrote on Jul 1, 2009 11:53 AM:

" What suprizes me is that there are no more pictures like that after all the other pileups. Come on! Between the ambulance, fire department and police cars. I counted at least 11 service vehicles around the 1st accident but not 1 car or person warning anybody until 2 'more' accident later. Tha's what made me mad. Those other accidents could've been prevented! "

Stan wrote on Jul 6, 2009 5:05 PM:

" I understand the pictures may be "sensational" and unfeeling, but the root of the incident was a rollover- what caused it? The car was relatively new, was it tires" Driver error? We should be told the facts. "

Ara wrote on Aug 1, 2009 5:37 AM:

" As everybody knows as well , Green Valley is a comunity to retred people.
People more 60 years old buy homes there just to do things according the age.
They try to protect themself moving to quiet places likes Green Valley.
I would like rember to Mauna Loa some day she will be ´´elderly´´ also.
Many scientist did the best jobs of them lifes after 60 years old.
they deserve all respect and more atention from the autorities.
I agree with Kelly "

Monique wrote on Aug 1, 2009 8:16 AM:

" GreenValley News scaring all the retired cominity living there.
What you doing to get more information about what caused the accident?
We waiting for anwers...NO ONLY ONE A BODY COVERED WITH YELLOW PLASTIC.
I-19 is a safe place to drive or what? "

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