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A Hayden High School student and athlete Saturday was seriously injured in a single-vehicle car accident near Aravaipa.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Timothy Case Jr., the accident was reported on Aug. 22 at 3:59 p.m. on Hwy. 77 at milepost 125. The driver and sole occupant, Santiago Pina, was airlifted to a Phoenix-area hospital with serious injuries. Case said the cause of the collision is still under investigation. “Since the driver is the only person involved,” Case said in an email to Copper Area News, “our investigators will need to interview him once he’s released from the hospital to find out what happened.”
He added that the entire roadway was blocked for a short period of time while first responders were working to save Pina.
Pina was supposed to play varsity football for Hayden High School. Coach John Estrada said that he showed real promise in practice.
Hayden-Winkelman Schools and many residents of the surrounding communities on Monday night held a candlelight vigil for Pina. The district posted the following statement to its page on Facebook: “We are extremely appreciative for our community as well as surrounding communities who came today for Santiago Piña and his family. It’s a beautiful sight to see such an outpouring of support shown. THANK YOU!. #Lobostrong #Weloveyousantiago.”
Students at Ray High School Tuesday wore blue in support of Pina. Superior Schools is also planning a show of support as well.
Photo from Monday night’s candlelight vigil at the Hayden Football Field and was taken from the Hayden-Winkelman Schools Facebook Page
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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