House on the corner of Webb Dr. and Giffen Rd. was damaged during a suspected drag racing incident.
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two motor vehicle accidents in San Manuel involving teen drivers.
On Dec. 13, 2024, at around 1 a.m., deputies were called to an address in the 100 block of S. Avenue B regarding a vehicle that had left the roadway and struck two vehicles parked in a driveway.
According to Lauren Reimer, Public Information Officer for PCSO, the driver was a 15-year-old male. He was transported to the hospital by helicopter due to his injuries. The 16-year-old female passenger, Reimer said, told deputies that the two had been drinking prior to the crash. She was transported to the hospital by ambulance for minor injuries.
The female passenger was cited with minor consumption of alcohol. The driver was processed for driving under the influence of alcohol and, as of last week, the blood results are still pending. Reimer said he will be facing additional criminal and civil charges.
On Jan. 4, 2025, PCSO was called to the 900 block of W. Webb Dr. regarding a vehicle that had lost control and struck a nearby home.
The 18-year-old male driver and a 35-year-old female passenger were both transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies are still looking for a third passenger who did not remain at the scene.
Reimer said the cause of the crash remains under investigation, though speed may have been a factor. There were reports, she said, that the vehicle may have been involved in street racing prior to the incident.
On Saturday evening, Reimer reported that the driver, identified as Isaac Valenzuela, 18, has been arrested and booked into the Pinal County Jail for felony and misdemeanor charges: criminal damage, two counts of endangerment, reckless driving, racing and criminal speed.
She also said that starting Jan. 9, deputies began conducting a focused traffic enforcement detail in San Manuel. “Our goal is to show a heavy presence in the area,” she said.