A late model Ford Bronco went over the cliff and into Oak Creek Canyon on Monday, Dec. 31, at approximately 10:45 a.m. According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the vehicle came around a blind hairpin curve just south of Midgely Bridge where traffic was stopped due to an earlier accident.

Ford Bronco falls 70 feet off Hwy. 89A near Midgely Bridge

A late model Ford Bronco went over the cliff and into Oak Creek Canyon on Monday, Dec. 31, at approximately 10:45 a.m.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the vehicle came around a blind hairpin curve just south of Midgely Bridge where traffic was stopped due to an earlier accident.

The vehicle was towing a small travel trailer and was unable to stop.

The driver lost control and both vehicles crossed the center line, skidded off the narrow road and flipped over as they fell 60 to 70 feet down the steep embankment.

A large juniper stopped the Bronco from continuing another 150 to 200 feet to the canyon floor.

Eight firefighters responded to the crash, climbing over large boulders that were strewn about the steep hill for erosion control, and also over glass and debris from the crash, to reach the driver.

Four police officers were on the scene, assisting the firefighters as they winched the victim up from the crash site in a Stokes basket.

The driver of the Bronco was transported by rescuers to the Sedona Campus of Verde Valley Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, according to Gary Johnson, SFD public information officer.

The driver’s name was not available at press time.

The earlier accident involved a large recreational vehicle that lost its brakes coming south on Hwy. 89A, where it hit the canyon wall just north of the city limits.

A tow truck called to the RV accident experienced difficulty in removing the vehicle which was jammed tightly against the wall, but sticking out far enough that it impeded traffic.

No one was injured in the RV accident.

Susan Johnson

Larson Newspapers