CONCHO- Two people were killed and three seriously injured when a vehicle carrying five people ran off the highway and rolled over. The driver is being investigated for impairment.
On Friday, February 16, at 9:08 pm on southbound State Route 61 at milepost 375 near Concho, a vehicle with five passengers veered off the highway between St. Johns and Concho that locals call “dead man’s curve.”
The Department of Public Safety explained, “The vehicle crossed the northbound lane of travel and went off the road, causing the vehicle to roll over.”
“All five people were ejected from the vehicle and one passenger was pronounced deceased on scene and another passenger was transported to a Show Low hospital where they passed away,” said the Department of Public Safety spokesperson.
The vehicle is described by the family spokesperson as a Volkswagen Golf and was driven by 32 yr. old Joseph Worster.
Worster is in critical condition with numerous injuries at a Phoenix hospital.
Their families have identified the two passengers who died in the crash as 30 yr. old Jonah Mundo and 14 yr. old AlexieAnna “Lexi” Sanders.
Lexi’s brother Kordell Sanders and his girlfriend were in the vehicle, and they’re expected to recover according to the family spokesperson.
“Kordell is in Phoenix and working on recovering and should be home in two weeks,” said the family spokesperson.
Worster is a sex offender who resides in Concho, Arizona. He has a long history of criminal offenses, including burglary, sexual conduct with a minor, failure to register as a sex offender, kidnapping, assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and was incarcerated at the Arizona Department of Corrections for several years.
A DPS Spokesperson said, “A criminal investigation is ongoing for the driver of the vehicle.”
“The Life 360 app from Kordell’s phone showed that the vehicle was going 121 MPH. Lexi had a fear of people speeding while driving and must have been so frightened before her death.” said the family spokesperson.
The life 360 app showed the rate of speed and the travel pattern along with the final resting place of the vehicle.
The two teens are recovering and have asked the family to wait for Lexi’s funeral until they can attend.
“We were planning a quinceañera with a beautiful dress for Lexi’s 15th birthday and now were planning her funeral,” said the family spokesperson.
Lexi was going to turn 15 a couple days after her death.
Family and friends of Lexi are trying to raise money for her funeral expenses and the future care of her brother, Kordell.
You can donate at Owens Mortuary.