An 82-year-old grandmother was killed early Wednesday on U.S. 60 near Higley Road in Mesa, Arizona, after her family pulled onto the freeway shoulder to change a flat tire. Troopers say a 21-year-old suspected impaired driver, Zachary Robert Penrod, struck both of the family’s vehicles. Ruth Acuña de Valenzuela did not survive. Her aunt and uncle underwent multiple surgeries, and her grandson suffered a broken collarbone after witnessing the crash. Penrod now faces felony charges including reckless manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The family had done what any of us would do: pull over, turn on the hazards, and call relatives for help. Some of those relatives had already arrived and offered to drive the grandmother home. The crash happened anyway, which is the part that’s hardest to accept. Roadside breakdowns are routine. The danger around them is not.
Here on the Suncoast, we spend a lot of time on I-75, U.S. 41, and the bridges that connect our beach communities. A blown tire or a dead battery can happen to anyone, any day. Safety experts recommend pulling as far onto the shoulder as possible, exiting on the passenger side, standing behind a barrier when one exists, and calling for help rather than standing near the vehicle. The family has set up a GoFundMe to cover funeral and medical costs.
Have you ever broken down on the side of a highway? What did you do to stay safe?
