Prescott woman dies after car rolls approximately 1,000 feet down cliff
Aug 17, 2024, 6:00 PM | Updated: Aug 24, 2024, 9:06 am
PHOENIX — A Prescott woman is dead after the car she was driving swerved left on Thumb Butte Loop Road and rolled down the cliff, according to authorities.
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the incident that occurred between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Aug. 16.
After arriving, YCSO deputies found a white 1995 Toyota Forerunner approximately 1,000 feet down the mountainside, nearly two miles from the Copper Basin junction.
After hiking down the mountain, authorities found 39-year-old Kristen Little, whom they believed had been ejected from the car about halfway down the mountain.
Deputies flew drones over the nearby area and a DPS Ranger helicopter also helped search for more passengers, but they were unable to locate any additional bodies.
Authorities opted to wait until the morning of the 17th to recover Little due to the lack of light and heavy brush that covered the landscape.
She was taken to the Medical Examiner’s office on Saturday afternoon.
The investigation remains ongoing.
YCSO detectives are looking to gain information about the Forerunner, as well as any other vehicles that could have been involved in the incident. In addition, they are searching for any witnesses who might have seen the accident.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office can be reached at (928)771-3260. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact Yavapai Silent Witness anonymously at 1-800-932-3232 or online.