Impaired Driver Charged with Manslaughter and Endangerment
May 25, 2011
The Mesa Police Department
responded to the scene of a fatal traffic collision at the
intersection of Country Club and McLellan yesterday just after
2:30 pm. It was discovered that a blue 1998 Ford Taurus was
traveling east on West McLellan approaching Country Club. At the
same time, a green 1997 Ford Explorer was traveling north on
North Country Club and entered the intersection on a solid green
traffic signal. The Ford Taurus failed to stop for the solid red
traffic signal and struck the Ford Explorer, causing it to roll
several times; the driver was ejected. The driver of the
Explorer was declared deceased at the scene and has been
identified as 31-year-old Anissa Wirth, a Phoenix resident.
There was also a 23-year-old female passenger in the Explorer;
however, she did not sustain serious physical injuries.
Several witnesses who remained at the scene confirmed with
traffic investigators that the light for northbound Country Club
was green at the time of the tragic collision. The driver of the
Ford Taurus was not injured and has been identified as
24-year-old Andreah M. Patterson (shown here in photo), a Mesa
resident. Traffic officers indicated that Patterson displayed
numerous signs of impairment and conducted a DUI investigation.
The investigaion revealed that Patterson is believed to have
been impaired. As a result, Andreah Patterson has been arrested
and booked on one count of Manslaughter and one count of
Endangerment.
Please be reminded of the consequences of driving while impaired
during the Memorial Holiday weekend.