Car causes double collision accident

A bizarre double traffic accident sent two men to the hospital Tuesday. According to the Yuma Police Department, at about 11:25 a.m., a 79-year-old man driving a 2002 Dodge four-door passenger car was eastbound on 24th Street approaching 4th Avenue when he alleged that his accelerator became stuck.

He then swerved to avoid traffic but ended up colliding with a red 2002 Volvo semi-truck driven by John Matus, 57, of Yuma.

Matus had been stopped at the westbound left turn lane of 24th street and 4th Avenue YPD reported.

The 79-year-old man, whose identity was not released by YPD, then continued eastbound on 24th street and made it all the way through the stop lights at 1st Avenue and on towards the intersection at Arizona Avenue before a second collision.

He then rear ended a 1993 Ford F-150 work truck being driven by Gonzalo Robles, 51, of San Luis, Ariz. A passenger, Joel Valdez, 41, of Yuma was also in the truck during the collision.

The F-150 had been stopped in the eastbound left turn lane of 24th Street and Arizona at the time of the collision.

Valdez was taken to Yuma Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The driver of the Dodge was flown to a Phoenix hospital. The extent of his injuries were unknown as of Tuesday afternoon.

Matus and Robles reported no injuries at the scene, police said.

The cause of the collision is under investigation. YPD encourages anyone with any information about the accidents to call either master police officer Russ Hartley or accident investigator John Allen at 373-4700, or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

Chris McDaniel can be reached at cmdaniel@yumasun.com or 539-6849.