Photo by: The driver of this 2019 Nissan was killed Tuesday morning after being hit head-on by an eastbound semi-truck on Highway 70 in Fort Thomas. The passenger was airlifted to a hospital in Tucson for treatment.
The vehicle lands in the Family Dollar parking lot
John Johnson
john johnson news@gmail.com
Fort Thomas-Safford Terry Lynn Ripplinger, 68, died Tuesday morning after the car he was driving westbound on U.S. Highway 70 was hit by an eastbound semi-truck. Ripplinger’s wife, Mary Ann Ballard Ripplinger, 71, was initially admitted to Banner-University Medical Center Tucson after she was admitted to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center for various injuries, including multiple fractures and abdominal pain. Airlifted.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, two Element Tracking LLC Peterbilt semi-trucks from Gilbert headed east on Route 70 around 6:16 a.m. to Fort Thomas, where the highway speed limit will drop from 65 mph. I came across up to 45 mph. The first semi, driven by David Wayne Pinkerton, 58, of Phoenix, began to slow down, but the second semi, driven by Aaron Wayne Thorson, 55, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, failed to slow down. and collided with the rear of the first semi. Cicada with great momentum.
The second semi then veered into the oncoming westbound lane and crashed into a white 2019 Nissan Altima driven by Terry Ripplinger. The Semi then rolled along the front parking lot of the Family Dollar Store, and the Nissan also stopped at the store. Thorson was transferred to his MGRMC and released after receiving treatment for minor injuries. He was summoned for not giving way to avoid the accident and for not wearing his seatbelt.
The first semi rolled along the shoulder, there were no further accidents and driver Pinkerton was unharmed.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety was assisted by the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, Pima and Fort Thomas Fire Departments, EMS, and the Pima Police Department.
The highway was closed for about an hour as the damaged vehicle was removed from the scene and a death investigation was completed.
