On September 15, 2011 at 7:12 p.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office responded to a serious injury collision involving two vehicles at the intersection of Hunt Highway and Bella Vista Road in San Tan Valley.
The collision occurred when Jacqueline Minto failed to stop her vehicle for the red traffic signal. She drove into the back end of another vehicle which then stuck another vehicle. The driver of the vehicle which was initially struck had to be transported by ambulance to Banner Ironwood Hospital for head, neck, leg and arm injuries.
Minto showed obvious signs of alcohol impairment. She admitted to drinking “a glass of wine” at a bar just prior to the accident. She submitted to field sobriety tests which show numerous clues of impairment. She blew a .183 breath alcohol concentration into a portable breath testing device.
Minto was arrested for driving while impaired by alcohol. She later consented to a blood test and also an Intoxilyzer Test which showed a .173 BAC.
She was booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center for Driving while impaired by alcohol, Driving with a blood alcohol concentration over .08 or more, Extreme DUI (BAC over .15 or more) and Aggravated Assault. She is currently being held on a no bond status as the Aggravated Assault charge is a felony offense.
Jacqueline Minto told deputies on scene that she is the “Chief Deputy County Assessor” for Pinal County.
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “During the past two weeks, Pinal County has seen two fatal collisions involving impaired drivers. We have warned the public after each collision about the dangers of driving while impaired. Evidently Jacqueline Minto didn’t heed this warning and chose to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol.”