GV woman survives rollover, husband dies near Safford

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A rollover accident claimed the life of a Green Valley man who was out for a fall drive near Safford this week, but his wife survived two days at the bottom of a snowy 300-foot embankment in freezing temperatures, police said.

Jack Albert Dutton, 63, died some time after driving his pickup truck off northbound U.S. Route 191 at about 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Lt. Steve Harrison said.

Mary Elizabeth Dutton, 59, reached at University Medical Center on Friday, said she did not require any surgery, suffered only a broken clavicle, a dislocation that she did not specify, plus many, many cuts and bruises, including a swollen eye. She said she hoped to be discharged from the hospital soon and could not explain why the truck went off the road.

“We were just out for a beautiful fall drive. We thought we’d be back home Tuesday evening. We knew that cold front was coming in but...with the heater on, you can enjoy it in the vehicle,” Dutton said.

Although the highway snaked around in S curves, there was no snow at that time and no other vehicle involved.

Asked what happened, Dutton said, “I don’t know. It was curvy ... I think he just overshot the curve.”

Police said both occupants were ejected from the car during multiple rollovers and were found at the bottom of a very steep embankment in such a remote location that rescuers, hindered by snow, were not able to each them on the ground. Rescuers only reached the scene when a helicopter arrived and took Dutton to the hospital around dusk on Thursday. Police said they did not know if the couple were wearing seatbelts.

“I think I was thrown out — things were like a blur. I think I was unconscious for a while, then I woke up, tried to stay warm, then it started to snow Tuesday evening,” said the former San Antonio resident, who was dressed in a light denim jacket.

National Weather Service figures showed temperatures dipped to 29 degrees on Thursday morning near Safford and remained below freezing for several hours.

Harrison said, “It got really cold. It’s amazing that she survived there two days. If she hadn’t been found that day she probably would have died” from exposure.

Dutton said she was thinking, “Oh my goodness, I’m not going to stay warm, I’m going to be wet. Thank goodness it’s not a heavy snow. I’m just going to be cold.”

She said she kept moving her fingers so they wouldn’t get frostbitten, then said with a laugh, “That’s not the way to go camping.”

Dutton said the helicopter crew told her the drop was more like 800 feet than 300.

“It’s a miracle that more didn’t happen to me than has happened,” Dutton said.

She expressed pain that her husband did not survive, saying, “I’m really sad about my husband. It just pains me that he didn’t make it. We were together for 31 years, and dated for five years before that. He was my soulmate, he was everything. Never under-appreciate your partner.”

Dutton was conscious when discovered about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. She screamed to an Arizona Department of Transportation snowplow driver who pulled over when he saw tracks leading off the road, Harrison said.

After the helicopter arrived, Dutton spoke to detectives. Police finally were able to reach the vehicle on Friday, Harrison said.

The full investigation may take several weeks, as it will involve medical reports on Dutton’s husband.

pfranchine@gvnews.com | 547-9738