Sedona AZ (June 7, 2015) – This afternoon at approximately 1:00 p.m., Sedona was the scene of a fatal head on crash on SR 89A south of the Y roundabout within the City limits. Southbound cars were detoured onto SR 179 at the roundabout, and cars entering the Y roundabout from SR 179 and SR 89A were redirected. At approximately 6:30 PM, Sedona police had the situation under control and the second of the involved cars was removed from the scene.
Involved in the accident was a black Prius and, the cause of the accident, a white SUV.
No publication of the victims or survivors identities will be printed at this time. We will release more information as it becomes available.
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
Submitted on 2015/06/07 at 8:32 pm by Sharlett to another article:
Our town got turned upside down today as the result of a (felon) driver followed by a police officer and the driver accelerated his Jeep up to at least 95 MPH and did his own personal suicide run on Cooks Hill (89A), as he crossed the center lane on W89A into the direct path of an innocent family in a Prius small car that tried avoiding him – but this ass had his focus on that little car which he finally hit head on.
Then the driver of the Jeep pulled out his gun, jumped out of his car and ran and finally (thank God) shot himself in the head!
No one could have predicted this chain of events would have happened in our little town – yet it did. My sorrow is so very deep and given to the officer following the Jeep who witnessing the rest of the horrific tragedy and to the family of those who were innocent victims.
Then I learned there was – on a supposedly (or should be) quiet Sunday evening around 7 P.M. that some woman who had 2 drinks (+?) at our local Sound Bites restaurant – is drunk and wondering around the same parking lot and not in her right mind…and (as though they didn’t have enough to deal with today) our Police were called to deal with her!
Call me wrong – and If I am wrong – isn’t Sedona Sound Bites the very same venue – business – bar – restaurant – where our Parks and Rec Mz Rachael is wanting our teens to congregate for a fun night of dancing to pay $10 to get into? Are our kids really safe at that establishment?
Oh, another other incident was a couple dogs left in a hot car at El Rincon that the police were called on!
My simple take is that our kids should have their dances at non commercial places like the old teen center as Posse Grounds Park (that has now been Sold and paid for by our stellar City Council to the new theater group); that our police should have better back up (thank God the officer was not killed); that All of us Wake Up and Realize that Sedona is not some little forgotten Oz town!
Last thing I will say is that did the driver have drugs in his blood or was he just a felon fool? Was he legal or…..?
Time will tell. But now we should all understand that Sedona is not exempt from anything!
Isn’t it time for us to put on our adult pants and realize that our first line of protection is to protect our Citizens?
Screw you too Sharlett Keep yourself locked up in your house with your computor spewing hate(pretty sure thats all you do anyway) Then you will be unaffected by the REAL world….
A beautiful day turned ugly. No one witnessing this will ever want to return to Sedona because it will forever have bad memories for them. Paradise ruined by bad people.
Suicidal guy was 48 yr old dude from Cottonwood, deliberately aimed at Prius. Three people in black Prius from Phoenix, a 33 yr old and older woman in front seat dead at scene, a 29 yr old woman in back seat in critical condition airlifted. That’s the news I’ve heard. Bad bad news Sedona.
Miss Chow is sadly right. We need the rains to shed tears on our scarred earth.
Sending Love & Light Sedona
At approximately 1:30 pm, Sunday, June 7, 2015, Sedona Fire District (SFD) emergency crews were called to a report of a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles on West State Route 89A between Brewer Road and Rolling Hills Drive. SFD crews determined three of the four occupants died on the scene. The fourth occupant was extricated from the vehicle and transport by air ambulance to Flagstaff Medical with life threatening injuries.
The west bound lanes of State Route 89A were closed for approximately four hours while the east bound lanes were restricted to one lane.
Thank you for your support.
@Sharlett True to form, you take a horrible event and turn it into some soapbox for you to give an opinion. FOR ONCE, take a tip from Jenny Chow and H.T. Stop thinking for yourself and think of those poor lost people.
Prayers for all.
Are you New to Sedona ? Things like this happen alot around here, People are dyeing every day here. That is a terrible shame my thoughts and prayers are with the families involved. What ever on the sound bites thing… do you really think soundbites is responsible for some woman roaming around crazy ? there about as responsible for that as the internet is responsible for your crazy post. Good day to you.
Hey there why not see Sharlotte provided important info, what’s the beef? Like that Mark earlier says get your move on, why the personal when personal isn’t the time or need @JustSay? It”s a beautiful day in Sedona, time to appreciate you didn’t get killed by a sack of (deleted by editor). I’m just sayin to get that anger checked. Spills over & makes you gross. Got something to say then just say it, got a personal vendetta then say it to yourself. Thanks there Sharlotte for stepping up.
God Bless Our Sedona Fire Department and Police Officers. Seeing this on a beautiful Sunday in Sedona will be unforgettable. Multiple calls are why we needed extra fire station in Chapel. Can you imagine if they had to get there with wall to wall cars and no way to move them off the roads.
All you that had issues about the other fire stations better count your blessings now they’re built.
God bless you Chief Kazian and crew. God bless you all at the police department. It’s a sad time in Sedona for sure.
Thanks Michael for your correct analysis of a lady who was not in any condition to drive and the awesome Sedona Police department who saved another potential accident by picking her up and not letting her get into her car.
Fatal Traffic Collision – On Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 1:30 p.m., there was a head-on collision involving two vehicles on SR 89A just east of Rolling Hills Drive in Sedona.
Ross Willoughby, age 48, of Cottonwood, was traveling eastbound on SR 89A near Rolling Hills Drive when his vehicle went into on-coming traffic hitting another vehicle. Willoughby was pronounced deceased on scene and the other vehicle had three occupants; the driver and a backseat passenger were pronounced deceased on scene and the front seat passenger was air-lifted to Flagstaff Medical Center with life threatening injuries. All three occupants are believed to be from the Phoenix area. Detectives are still working to make next of kin notifications.
The highway was limited to one direction of travel until 6 p.m. All traffic from Uptown had to be routed south on SR 179. The roadway was re-opened at 8 p.m. The Sedona Police Department was assisted on scene by Sedona Fire District personnel, DPS and ADOT.
This is an on-going investigation.
Sharlett Repost, your Sunday driver stories are mixed up.
Around 1 PM, I was coming from the Home Depot in Cottonwood to West Sedona when I saw a tan sedan heading west on the eastbound side of 89A. I saw it blow past a cycling and the cyclist turned around like what the heck was that? I didn’t see the police anywhere (later I heard they were following the sedan on 89A). Then the sedan turned down a residential street and disappeared.
I stopped at Whole Foods to get a tea and checked out at 1:20 PM. When I got on 89A heading west to the Home Depot in Flagstaff, I was directly behind the White Jeep Cherokee heading west on 89A. The Cherokee was driving normally when he suddenly sped up and veered left into the eastbound lane at 1:24 PM. It looked like he suddenly lost control of the car or had a sudden heart attack. The left turning Cherokee blocked my view of the dark grey Prius in the eastbound fast lane. Then the Prius swung up from the impact until it stopped up on the sidewalk.
Immediately, I got out to help. The accident took a split second so I expected to find people dazed or injured not knocked out or worse. I would have stayed in my car if I saw police chasing someone or if someone pulled out a gun, jumped out of their car and ran away (not sure where you heard that one, Sharlett). I was actually shocked when I heard the mayor wrote on Facebook that the Cherokee driver had committed suicide after the collision because I didn’t see him move after impact and I never heard a gunshot.
The police got there quickly because they were in the area due to the sedan. In a crazy way, the sedan driver might have saved the front seat passenger in the Prius because the police were able to get her a helicopter to the hospital precious minutes after the collision. Both drivers and a backseat passenger in the Prius were not as lucky. The least injured party was a dog found under a seat in the Cherokee. Seeing the dog, banged up and bloody, trot out with Animal Control was about as surreal as the collision itself.
I don’t know why the Cherokee driver acted as he did and I was there when it happened. All I can do is pray for ease and comfort for the dead and strength and love for the living. Furthermore, the police and the fire department were awesome on the scene. Their stellar behavior made up for the people who didn’t stop to help before police arrived or drove around the accident and recklessly over an oil slick to get on with their day or milled about filming the tragic scene with their cell phones. Odder still, the people online calling Ross Willoughby names aren’t so much mad he killed two people but they had to wait in traffic or it ruined their image of Sedona because of it. Really, people. Grow up.
Because I have a police scanner it was possible to hear the complete incident as it unfolded. In turn I contacted certain friends and neighbors to alert them to stay home.
The purpose for the scanner is because years ago there was no way to know about Sedona emergencies. A waitress at Dick Duncan’s (now Judi’s) clued us in on the scanner and it helped by notifying us when accidents and other incidents occurred and prevented us from entering into bad situations. Today, of course, we have availability of Internet and up to the minute postings to keep us informed.
It was on the scanner I also heard of a request for a welfare check at the Sound Bites. In spite of the stress and demand on emergency services the police responded and took what sounded like gentle and considerate care of an intoxicated lady.
As a resident of Broken Arrow Vista and a recent recipient of emergency services, I cannot say enough about the quality and expertise of those that tended to me. The same was true at the Sedona Emergency Center. Although my incident occurred in the VOC the EMT attending to me in the ambulance was based in the new station close to my home.
As I listened yesterday and all services were pretty much centered in one location, I again thanked my lucky stars for the wisdom and ultimate victory of a long, drawn out battle that resulted in that additional station. Some people, unfortunately, may never realize or acknowledge the value until they learn the hard way.
Hats off medics. No complaints here other than my clumsy and unexpected fall.
Eddie Maddock
Happy that we didn’t go to Sedona & stayed home. So sad.
@KH writes: ” I was actually shocked when I heard the mayor wrote on Facebook that the Cherokee driver had committed suicide after the collision because I didn’t see him move after impact and I never heard a gunshot.”
Is that true? The mayor of Sedona would post this most shocking community news on her own Facebook instead of more professionally making a public statement or news release? How tacky is that?
Really, Sedona, you are rapidly losing your snob appeal with such crass antics from the mayor of your not-so-fair city.
@KH
You fiqured it out….that’s what Sharlett does…..she makes it up as she goes along..
She posts, posts again and again under another name to either backup or defend her original post! Sad that she has used this tragedy to promote herself and her (deleted by editor) New low
You know what’s hard to understand? How/why no one in position of authority bothered to attempt to manage traffic on the backed up roads. I was sitting up in that canyon for over an hour watching people make crazy, dangerous u-turns to get out of there, freak out at each other, etc. but no law enforcement ever appeared to give out info that road was closed or manage traffic. Is there no state police agency that could have been summoned to help? This was the most screwed up thing I’ve seen in a while.
Thank you @KH for your post. It is very much appreciated.
I was forwarded posts from facebook that weren’t factual. It is time for the community to pull together and stop the hurtful rumors and judgments .
I was in the canyon on my way home. A vehicle did come by and announced over their speaker that there was a two hour delay to enter Sedona. It appeared to be a Fire Department vehicle.
For some they see this tragic event as confirmation that the community has lost its way. Quick to place judgment , to rationalize their best interest and the loss of community focus on Health Welfare and Safety. We all know that Sedona roadways are a issue. As we traveled home on Sunday sadness and sorrow was in the air, it still is. I couldn’t have been prouder to see our Sedona Police, Fire Department and volunteers guide and assist. They did their best under a tragic situation. Sedona has two roads, three ways in and out.
We lost three loved human beings on Sunday. One local who has contributed along with his family to many special events assisting to create memories for weddings, fairs, and festivals in Sedona and Northern Arizona. The Willoughbys are a long time loved local family, friends. Please think about this, along with those that contribute to the betterment and your enjoyment in Sedona without any recognition.
I mourn the loss R. Scott Willoughby and the Sedona visitors, all loved human beings. Thank you @KH for setting the record straight.
The man struck and killed two innocent people Sunday afternoon is my nextdoor neighbor. I will forever have questions that will never be answered. What Scott did was very uncharacteristic of the man and friend I knew. My heart felt condolences to the family he forever ruined, and to Scott’s family also. Scott was truly a kind soul. I don’t know why!
On Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 1:30 p.m., there was a head-on collision involving two vehicles on SR 89A just east of Rolling Hills Dr. in Sedona.
At the time Sedona PD officers were on the scene investigation of the collision, the Sedona Police Department received information from Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office of a suicidal subject and were attempting to locate him and his white Jeep Cherokee. The driver and vehicle were confirmed to be the same subject and vehicle involved in this collision.
Ross “Scott” Willoughby, age 48, of Cottonwood, was the driver of that white 1996 Jeep Cherokee identified by YCSO. He was pronounced deceased on scene. An autopsy by the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s office has revealed that Willoughby died of a bullet wound consistent with that of a self-inflicted gunshot.
The second vehicle traveling west on SR 89A was a gray 2015 Toyota Prius, driven by Moorthy Somashundaram (33 years old) of Phoenix. His wife, Swapna Ponnambalam (29 years old) was in the front passenger seat and his mother-in-law, Bhuvaneswari Ponnanbalam (66 years old ) of India was in the backseat of the vehicle. Somashundaram and his mother-in-law were pronounced deceased on scene. Swapna Ponnambalam was air-lifted to Flagstaff Medical Center. She is in critical condition.
The Sedona Police Department is continuing the investigation of this collision.
Visitor…How fortunate you must be that wherever you live this sort of thing is so commonplace that there are systems in place to deal with them so that people from out of town aren’t inconvenienced. Sedona is geographically unique in that there are very few roads to handle the traffic and no way to conveniently divert people to detours around sad events such as this. When you return to your home town, please have your traffic engineers/police/fire/city council or whatever be in touch with ours so we can benefit from their wisdom so we can make our community just like yours. If that should occur, maybe you won’t have a reason to see Sedona as it will be just like (fill in the name of your town).
Seems like @sharlett & mayor were right about gun suicide & what a mess for weekenders & a horror for all victims & families. Visiter they would’ve acted better if knew, probably thought it just traffic. The restaurant (don’t know where it is in relation to accident never been there) did a good thing helping that drunk lady. Sounds like an ok place to let your kids go & thanks police & firemen! Sedona sorry this happened in a beautiful place.
@West Sedona Resident – Please don’t denigrate or attack the messenger. Facts remain Facts. My heart felt sorrow is real and has nothing to do with Me trying to grandstand – so take your words that your wrote me – “Screw you too” and look in the mirror.
Have you not read the latest’s reports of the accident Facts?
Facts remain and the Fact is that our little town is living through a horrific situation that happened Sunday afternoon.
@Just Sayin’ told me to “Stop thinking for yourself and think of those poor lost people.” Suggest you go back and re-read my comments! Wasn’t about me – only about what happened here and what a tragedy.
@K H and the rest of you: I Strongly suggest ( you nasty bully naysayers and those that just want to take issue with me) that you go back (above) and read post by Sedona Police Update in order to get the facts!
I did not make up anything.
“Really, Sedona, you are rapidly losing your snob appeal with such crass antics from the mayor of your not-so-fair city.” Snob appeal being lost? Are you serious? Sedona has been the home of snobbery since the late 90’s when California started its steep descent into our town. I have lived here since the mid 70’s and at that time it was as close to paradise as you could find. Now it is a bunch of NIMBY elitists who want to tell others how to live-and then the new agers. I won’t leave because it is home, but I don’t see my family staying much longer.
@ Sharlett No you didn’t make anything up and those were true facts that you posted. You were just insensitive and used someone elses tragedy to further your normal BS.
Cool your jets Oh Really & Just Saying. That Sharlet deserves credit for sending info that left us wondering and speculating in the know. Is Sharlet the mayor? The Mayor & others did it also & at same time – what’s the selective hate-mongering? Pick fair fights. High 5s Sharlet. High 5s SedonaEye.com for restraint, great reporting of a horrible story. Every one can be part of the world conversation here. Why do you hate freedom of speech Oh Really & Just Saying? If you’re elected officials, no doubt you despise your electorate.
@JasonNovak: The accident, of course, is tragic beyond words. However, the message you sent about life in Sedona in the ’70’s-’80’s couldn’t be more spot on. It’s refreshing to know there are still some of us around who have those memories to treasure. Thanks for the reminder.
(Tuesday Teen Night at Sound Bites? Speaks volumes.)
Eddie Maddock
Sharlett,
The latest information is the police were looking for the driver but your original version made it sound like an officer’s pursuit was responsible for one suicide and two deaths. I spoke up because I saw what happened and what you wrote was a terrible lie about the police. They had nothing to do with those deaths.
As the person behind the Cherokee, I can tell you no officer was pursuing him or I would have pulled over and gotten out of the way. Furthermore, the driver never got out of the car with a gun, ran off and committed suicide. Again, another terrible lie. I would have stayed in my car instead of trying to help if I heard a gunshot or saw someone behaving dangerously.
Standing up to gossip with the truth (no matter how unpopular) so people aren’t unfairly misaligned is not naysaying or bullying. It’s called doing the right thing, which is (despite the complaints) what the police and fire department did by putting all their focus on saving the one survivor’s life instead of the whining of impatient drivers.
We heard the same things Sharlett did at a restaurant in town about 3 PM. A waitress showed us Facebook posts with pictures/comments far worse than anything Sharlett offered here – this one had police cars involved in accident! You know if you have FB. Point is here we shared, we learned and no one was hurt. We all were sharing info and rumors even in our homes, take my word for it. Lots of rumors flew that day. Great seeing that FB & Twitter weren’t the only places to hear news in real time even news being made. LOVED IT. KEEP IT UP.
Hmmmmm Wonder how many of the posts supporting Sharlett are really her/himself.. He/she has a really bad habit of doing that…If anyone here reads her posts over and over and over again…add naseum Knows that he/she is a complete (deleted by editor).
On Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 1:30 PM there was a head-on collision involving two vehicles on SR 89A just east of Rolling Hills Dr. in Sedona. Three people were pronounced dead on scene and now a fourth person has died.
The passenger of the gray 2015 Toyota Prius, Swapna Ponnambalam (29 years old), who had been air-lifted to Flagstaff Medical Center, has died from her injuries. She died Tuesday afternoon at the hospital. Ponnambalam was visiting Sedona with her husband and mother who also died in the crash.
The Sedona Police Department is continuing the investigation into this collision. Anyone who witnessed the vehicles prior to the collision or witnessed the collision is asked to contact Sedona Police Department detectives at 928-282-3100.
@KH. If all that you just posted above is true, have you contacted the Sedona PD to offer your version of what happened?
I just read that the last person in this accident died. Your info could really be helpful.
Just Sayin’
@KH
“Just Sayin'” is right. If you were truthful about your postings on this site, you should contact Sedona PD detectives at 282-3100 and share your information. It’s critical that you do that!
@West Sedona Resident – could I suggest to you to get a life and actually respect the lives lost rather than your continued dumb ass rants against me??
Oh and @Just Sayin’: Very many people have the correct info on a lot of issues…including the accent….perhaps you just might want to acknowledge there are people who know more than you?
Back at you Sharlett. Many people have the correct info it’s you who likes to twist that correct info into a negative for your own agenda. BTW, We are all still waiting for you to give us your last name.
@Just Sayin and West Sedona Resident. Back at YOU. Why don’t you give us your real name? I think everyone who posts should give their full real name. I will when you do. Don’t want to admit you are paid with taxpayer dollars? Hypocrite.
Jess Lookin…
Oh yes You USe To Get PAID VIA TAX DOLLARS…..but you got fired…
Congratulations for that… You must be a first class idiot cause that’s hard to do…. Congratulations once again
@West Sedona Resident
Wrong again, I have never been on the public payroll, unless you count the military. Never been fired either.
How about you, how long have you worked for government?
https://www.facebook.com/DrAndrewDoan/videos/vb.510959075629370/880919481966659/?type=2&theater
condolences to these families
God be with you all & forgive the poor man who committed the sin of taking his life and others, pray for all