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Driver found guilty of crash that killed 2 children on Arizona highway

Five children were in the van that was struck by Jonathan Eugene Floyd's car on Oct. 3, 2020 in Yavapai County.

YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz. — An Arizona jury has convicted a 44-year-old man of killing two children after he drove impaired on U.S. Highway 93 and smashed his car into a family's van. 

Jonathan Eugene Floyd was found guilty last week in Yavapai County Superior Court of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and endangerment for a car crash that occurred on Oct. 3, 2020. 

Floyd was driving south on the highway when his car drifted into the opposing lane of traffic, according to the Yavapai County Attorney's Office.

A van with five children riding as passengers attempted to sharply turn and avoid a collision but ended up it hitting Floyd's car. Two of the children were instantly killed and other members of the family were injured. 

Floyd's car additionally struck a commercial vehicle before hitting the family van.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to the scene and took Floyd into custody.

Blood tests showed Floyd was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the collision, prosecutors say.

The defendant was on parole at the time of the crash and faces a prison sentence ranging from 16 to 48 years for the two murder convictions when he's sentenced on Dec. 5. 

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