Single-vehicle rollover in Thatcher

By Jon Johnson
Assistant Editor
Published on Monday, June 15, 2009 5:37 PM MST

A car occupied by two teenagers rolled over while traveling on Highway 70 in Thatcher between First Avenue and Second Avenue early Monday morning.

According to Thatcher Police Chief Mark Stevens, officers were dispatched to a wrecked Pontiac Grand Prix a little after 5 a.m. Both occupants, Matthew Arevalo, 16, and Angela Adrian, 15, were outside of the vehicle by the time law enforcement arrived.

Arevalo had attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended by two witnesses near Second Avenue and Fourth Street and brought back. He was later taken to the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center where he was treated and released.

Adrian suffered more extensive injuries and was airlifted to the University Medical Center in Tucson by an AirEvac helicopter. According to Stevens, the hospital would not comment on her condition other to say she was not in critical condition.

Stevens said the cause of the crash is still under investigation but excessive speed was a factor. Police also took a blood sample from Arevalo to test for alcohol and drugs.

No citations or charges have been issued pending the Thatcher Police Department's investigation.

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Comments

16 comment(s)

understand wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:36 AM:

" legalwise, I think people are trying to say,don't feel sorry for this little girl. She got in the car with this guy. She made her choice. The incident with the older brother left a girl damaged badly. She also made the decision to go with a guy who stole a car, and was driving under the influence. It's time all take responsibility. It's either idiots committing suicide, or idiots stealing cars and driving under influence. Now we have the idiots breaking into houses. Too bad we don't hear enough about the good ones. these kidsarelosers "

Homesick Bulldog wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:34 AM:

" A curfew wouldn’t address minors driving through town at 5:00 am. Many of the responsible kids are headed to work at that time. "

LegalWise wrote on Jun 18, 2009 9:18 AM:

" We blame passengers in vehicles for accidents? I see. We certainly don't want the people driving the vehicles to be in control of them. That wouldn't be right. Breaking a curfew or being under the influence as a passenger makes the passenger at least 50% responsible for an accident when they aren't driving? Thanks for clearing that up for me. Not! Does ANYBODY take RESPONSIBILITY anymore? Parents...stop babying your b.r.a.t.s. The 21st century should be renamed the "it's not my fault" century. I can't believe some of this carp I read here. GROW UP! "

Reality wrote on Jun 18, 2009 9:13 AM:

" Everyone here is complaining about curfew laws and blaming parents for letting there kids out after hours. Truth is when I was a kid my parents were strict on me. When I wanted to go out after curfew I snuck out of the house like many kids do. Parents cant chain there kid to there beds. Things happen. I'm in no way defending Matthew in this accident. I personally know him and his brothers there just kids with no common cents. "

Confused as usual wrote on Jun 16, 2009 9:58 PM:

" Yes, I do believe there is a curfew. If I remember correctly it's 11:00pm for minors age 16 and under.My daughter is now 19 so it's hard to remember the curfew time.However these kids still had no business being out running around town at that time of the morning!The 16 yr. old boy is a punk for trying to run from the accident and leaving the 15 yr. old girl there.Yes she shouldn't have been there.I'm sure he didn't make her go with him.She's just as guilty as he is. "

Me wrote on Jun 16, 2009 5:32 PM:

" I think there is a curfew. At least in the city limits. "

To remember wrote on Jun 16, 2009 4:19 PM:

" The girl got into the car under the influence and knowing that he was under the influence too. She made the wrong choice and that is why she is the way she is today. Shes at fault too so dont just blame the boy! In this case both are at fault since the girl was 'at will' in the car. Nobody was forced or kidnapped in both cases. "

curfew try parenting wrote on Jun 16, 2009 3:20 PM:

" curfew or no curfew...kids who don't have any stability in their home life will still get themselves in trouble. the people of the community need to stop pointing fingers at everyone else and start spending time with their own family. the closer you are with your kids, the less they will want to dissapoint you by doing stupid stuff like these idiot kids. "

concerned... wrote on Jun 16, 2009 1:34 PM:

" Why doesn't Graham and Greenlee get a curfew like Tucson has? "

quick to judge wrote on Jun 16, 2009 1:10 PM:

" Do you have kids, do you think the girl might have taken the keys and snuck out of the house while the parents were sleeping. Always so quick to pass judement "

Remembers Again wrote on Jun 16, 2009 1:05 PM:

" The girl with permanent life changing injuries was a passenger, she had no control of the vehicle. The vehicle was stolen, I guess she was responsible for that also. She was a victim, if I remember correctly the Arevalo boy is doing 20 years for causing her injuries, I guess the court didn't see things your way and consider her at fault in any of the crimes Arevalo committed. "

Girl in last crash responsible too wrote on Jun 16, 2009 11:15 AM:

" To remembers: That girl that had permanent life changing injuries was under the influence too.. It wasnt just the arevalo boys fault. "

ma wrote on Jun 16, 2009 9:57 AM:

" Doesn't Safford or Graham County have a cerfew? "

SC wrote on Jun 16, 2009 3:57 AM:

" What were two kids doing out at 5am? Seems to me the parents don't care where their kids are, as long as they aren't home bugging them. "

Confused as usual wrote on Jun 16, 2009 1:16 AM:

" Once again I am confused! Seems lately that's not hard to do. Why are 2 teen-agers driving around town at 5:00am? He's 16 & she's 15 and he's driving too fast (allegedely) to properly control his vehicle because he doesn't have enough driving experience yet. What a "nice" guy Mr. Arevalo seems to be. The concern he showed for Miss Adrian as he took off and left her there by herself is appalling.That proves,at least in my eyes,he knew he did a number of things illegally and I hope he gets the book thrown at him! PUNK! "

Remembers wrote on Jun 15, 2009 10:53 PM:

" Another Arevalo boy driving recklessly, trying to hurt and kill people just like his older brother. His older brother is in prison for killing an elderly gentleman and causing permanent life changing injuries to a young girl . Some people just don't learn. "

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