TUCSON, Ariz. — A devastating crash on Interstate 19 near Pima Mine Road claimed the lives of a Tucson father and son on Wednesday, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Authorities identified the victims as 56-year-old Manuel Encinas and his 35-year-old son, Juan Encinas. The tragedy has left their family and community grieving two lives lost in an instant.
Investigators said the crash occurred around noon when Juan Encinas, who was driving a northbound pickup truck, suffered a sudden tire blowout. The mechanical failure caused him to lose control of the vehicle, which veered into the median and rolled several times before striking the southbound side of the interstate. The truck ultimately landed upside down on top of a Kia SUV traveling in the opposite direction.
Both Manuel and Juan Encinas were ejected from the pickup during the violent rollover. Despite the rapid arrival of emergency responders, neither man survived their injuries. The four occupants of the Kia SUV were rushed to Banner University Medical Center-Main Campus with minor injuries. Authorities later confirmed that all four were released following treatment.
The scale of the crash left the scene chaotic, involving at least four vehicles in the wreckage. Dan Gonska, spokesman for the Santa Rita Fire District, described the immediate aftermath as multiple patients attempting to climb out of damaged vehicles while crews worked to secure the area. Interstate 19’s southbound lanes were shut down entirely as investigators and rescue teams worked for hours to assist victims, clear debris, and document evidence.
Compounding the chaos, a second crash occurred roughly 45 minutes later in the northbound lanes near the same stretch of highway. The two-vehicle collision left both drivers hospitalized, though their conditions were not immediately released. Officials believe the secondary wreck was likely caused by traffic congestion and sudden slowdowns resulting from the initial fatal crash. The back-to-back incidents created major traffic disruptions in both directions of the interstate.
The deaths of Manuel and Juan Encinas highlight the unpredictable dangers posed by tire blowouts and other sudden mechanical failures on high-speed roadways. Authorities continue to investigate the fatal wreck, examining factors such as tire condition, vehicle speed, and road conditions. Interstate 19 has since reopened, but the devastating crash serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly tragedy can unfold on Arizona’s highways.