March 29, 2023 / Source: Gila Herald
The Arizona Department of Public Safety reported a motor vehicle crash in Fort Thomas on Tuesday morning.
Two Peterbilt lorry trucks from Gilbert-based Element Trucking LLC were traveling east on U.S. Highway 70 at around 6:16 a.m.
The second lorry driven by Aaron Wayne Thorson, 55, did not slow down and impacted the back of the first lorry. The second lorry then turned into the westbound lane and collided with Terry Ripplinger’s white 2019 Nissan Altima.
Terry Lynn Ripplinger, 68 was pronounced dead at the scene. Mary Ann Ballard Ripplinger, 71, was transported to Banner-University Medical Center Tucson for injuries. The first lorry came to a rest along the shoulder, and its driver, Pinkerton, was unharmed.
Thorson was taken to MGRMC for minor injuries. He received a ticket for not fastening his seatbelt and for failing to yield to prevent a fatal crash.
