Drunk Driver Sentenced to 20 Years After Fatal Crash
Adam Parker, 38, had a blood alcohol content three times the legal limit when he caused a fatal crash in Apache Junction, Arizona, leaving two young children without their mother.
Elizabeth McAloon, 28, and her seven-year-old daughter were driving home from church on the US 60 in Apache Junction when Parker, driving in the wrong direction, crashed into their vehicle. The impact killed McAloon and severely injured her daughter.
Parker, from Peoria, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated assault. He was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Pinal County Judge after emotional testimony from McAloon’s family members.
McAloon’s mother, Kimberly Surette, expressed the deep pain of losing her daughter and how it has changed her life forever. Family members asked for the maximum sentence, stating that Parker’s actions were a choice, not a mistake.
In his apology, Parker expressed deep remorse for his actions and the impact they had on McAloon’s family.
Deaths on Arizona Roads
According to data from the Arizona Department of Transportation, roadway fatalities have been on the rise in Arizona over the past decade:
- 2011: 825 deaths
- 2012: 821 deaths
- 2013: 844 deaths
- 2014: 774 deaths
- 2015: 895 deaths
- 2016: 952 deaths
- 2017: 1,000 deaths
- 2018: 1,010 deaths
- 2019: 982 deaths
- 2020: 1,057 deaths
The Arizona Department of Transportation offers driving tips to enhance road safety, including avoiding driving under the influence, staying alert, and following speed limits. More tips can be found on their Driving Safety Homepage.
Real-time highway conditions are available on the Arizona Traveler Information site, az511.gov, or through the AZ 511 app and ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT).
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