In a press briefing on Monday, September 7th, the Arizona Department of Public Safety identified the off-duty officer killed in a motorcycle collision in Cottonwood, Arizona. Commander Jody Makuch worked with the Cottonwood Police Department.
The agency’s accident report placed the time of the occurrence at about 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 6th. According to the CPD, Makuch traveled on State Route 89A at Willard Street when a car collided head-on with his motorcycle.
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Officials said that a man identified as Jason Howard Engel was southbound on the roadway when he ran a red light and swerved to avoid a vehicle. The victim sustained severe wounds and later died while undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
The police arrested Engel and booked him into the Yavapai County Jail on a charge of vehicular manslaughter. The ADPS is heading the investigation into the occurrence, and the suspect may face additional charges at its conclusion.
Makuch began his law enforcement journey in 1998 with the Elk City Police Department in Oklahoma. He joined the CPD in 2000 and assumed the role of a commander in 2009. He worked in different areas of the department, like the victim’s assistance, the Citizen Police Academy, COP Volunteers Program, and the communications center.
The victim’s demise reiterates how vital it is for road users to obey traffic rules and regulations. Violating the rules have adverse legal consequences and possible imprisonment, depending on the severity of the violation.
Disclaimer: The Safety Watch article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.
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