MOHAVE COUNTY, Ariz. — A Mohave County man is accused of using a go-kart to intentionally cause a collision that killed his former partner last Friday, officials said.
John Stettler, 40, of Meadview has been taken into custody for allegedly causing a crash near Driftwood and Boathouse drives that killed 32-year-old Sally Minard.
The victim was operating a quad when she was hit by a go-kart-type vehicle operated by Stettler. She had previously been in a relationship with Stettler, according to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office.
Evidence at the scene suggests the crash was not accidental and appeared to have been a criminal act, MCSO said.
Stettler is a facing charge of second-degree murder and was booked into the Mohave County jail. The investigation is ongoing.
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What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?:
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.