On Wednesday, a female motorcyclist was killed in a head-on collision with a DUI driver that reportedly had a blood-alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit.
Channel 12 News in Phoenix reports that 23-year-old Martez Lyle Begay was driving his 2016 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck southbound on 20th Street in Phoenix on Wednesday, April 23rd at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Begay attempted a left turn into a private driveway just south of Highland, but he “failed to yield the right of way” when he turned into the path of a northbound 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle being ridden by a 30-year-old woman, according to court documents.
The woman was rushed to an area hospital for treatment. Officials say that the woman later died as the result of injuries she suffered in the crash. Police have not released her identity at this time.
Begay and a 37-year-old male passenger in the pickup truck were uninjured in the crash.
Police officers at the scene said that Begay showed signs of alcohol impairment. Officers administered field sobriety tests to Begay, which he failed. A Breathalyzer test indicated that Begay had a blood alcohol level of 0.195 percent. This is more than twice the legal limit in the state of Arizona of.08 percent.
Begay was arrested at the scene and booked into the Maricopa County Jail. He is currently being held on the charge of manslaughter.
Court records indicate that Begay has a prior history of driving under the influence of alcohol, which may have further influenced the charges against him.
