No injuries were reported in the two vehicles of a motor vehicle accident around 6:15 a.m. involving a Chevy Tahoe driven by Yavapai County District 3 Supervisor Donna Grace Michaels, 70, who stated she was en route to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors’ 9 a.m. meeting in Prescott on Wednesday, Feb. 7,
“On Wednesday Feb. 7 at approximately 6:38 a.m. the Arizona Department of Public Safety investigated a collision involving two vehicles on SR-179 at the intersection of Beaverhead Flat Road — milepost 303 — south of Oak Creek,” DPS spokesman Bart Graves said in an email. The other vehicle appears to have been making a left turn from Beaverhead Flats Road onto State Route 179 and was heading towards the Village of Oak Creek.
Michaels described the scene that she saw behind the wheel of a Yavapai County vehicle as “an ocean of water.”
“I hit water and was not able to control my vehicle, and it was dark and pouring rain,” Michaels stated in an email. “There was a lot of standing water. [It’s] something in fact that we’re looking at because I think that would be a hazard for anybody there. I have never seen that much water, of course that was that morning where it was raining so hard. It was snowing in Prescott [that day] and of course I left early on purpose, because I knew I was going to hit snow.”
Michaels said she doesn’t know if either party admitted fault for the accident, but the county is currently assessing the damages to the Yavapai County vehicle.
“I have [received] a citation for not controlling my vehicle which … always happens when, whether it’s weather oryou swerve or a deer in the road or another car and you hit something,” Michaels said. “You’re, as a matter of course or policy, always cited for what they call ‘failure to control your vehicle. I have no idea what my next step is going to be. I’ve been so buried from the board meeting to this very moment [the afternoon of Monday, Feb. 12] but I will find out and do whatever the right thing is.”
Michaels was cited for driving at “speed greater than reasonable and prudent,” according Verde Valley Justice Court records.
Michaels said that she doesn’t know what the condition of the other vehicle is.
“I couldn’t see anything, it was dark and I got in the sheriff’s car, as soon as I could to make it to the board meeting,” Michaels said. “So I wasn’t staying there to assess. I know it was towed and I’m sure mine was as well.”
