PHOENIX — Christina Worthy didn't want to be in Phoenix on Thursday.
She didn't want to get candles, flowers and balloons for her 19-year-old daughter Ashley Vailes. She certainly didn't want to use those items to create a memorial for her daughter who died in a crash that same day.
“I honestly don’t believe my child is dead,” Worthy said.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: La joven de 19 años que murió en un accidente que involucró a un oficial de policía de Phoenix acababa de mudarse al valle
Just after 9 a.m. Worthy got a notification on her phone no parent ever wants to see. Vailes was in a car crash. She tried calling her daughter's phone multiple times but no one picked up. That's when Worthy, who lives in Las Vegas, got on the road and immediately drove to the Valley to check on Vailes to maker sure she was okay. Worthy said she had just made it to the Hoover Dam when she got the call that her daughter didn't survive the crash.
“I don't understand why it happened," Worthy said. "It doesn't feel real."
Worthy and her family gathered at 35th Avenue and Thunderbird at the scene of the crash. Holding onto each other as they mourned.
“She was full of life," Worthy said about her daughter. "She cared about everyone and everything.”
Vailes had just moved to the Valley from Las Vegas. The 19-year-old living on her own for the first time decided to move with the goal of joining the Air Force. Her mom said Vailes had just spoken with a recruiter and was taking steps to make those goals a reality.
“She had hopes and dreams and aspirations and she was positive," Worthy said.
According to Phoenix Police, one of their officers was driving back to a precinct after making an arrest in an unrelated case. With the suspect in the back of the cruiser, the officer made a left hand turn onto 35th Avenue when Vailes drove through the intersection during a red light. Police say the officer hit Vailes car. The impact drove the vehicle into a pole and the car caught fire.
The officer and suspect were taken to the hospital for their injuries. They are expected to be okay. Police said Vailes died at the scene.
Her family said Vailes was driving into work when the crash happened. They also said Vailes died instantly.
Glass and plastic from the crash remained at the scene more than 12 hours after the deadly crash.
“I want to know exactly what happened,” Worthy said.
Police said this investigation is still ongoing.
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