Wrong Way Driver Caused A Two-Vehicle Accident On Townsend Winona Road Thursday

Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a wrong way driver that caused a two-vehicle injury accident near the intersection of Townsend Winona Road and Hutton Ranch Road Thursday morning. Deputies arrived at the scene at around 11:20 a.m. They saw a gray Ford Expedition and a brown Honda CRV on the south side of the road. Witnesses and victim statements on scene say the Expedition was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane, just before the accident with the Honda, which was in the eastbound lane. The driver of the CRV tried to avoid a head-on collision by trying to drive off the shoulder of the road, but the Expedition broadsided the CRV, causing the accident. The driver of the Honda declined medical attention on scene. The driver of the Expedition was taken to Flagstaff Medical Center for evaluation and suspicion of DUI. The driver has been identified as 52-year-old Michael Siffert of Flagstaff. While completing a search of the Expedition, deputies found drug paraphernalia, potential illegal drugs and illegally manufactured weapons. They also found what they believed to be an explosive device. The Flagstaff Bomb Squad was called to the scene and it was determined it was non-threatening. Siffert, who is also a prohibited possessor, was booked in the Coconino County Detention Facility on charges of reckless driving, felony endangerment, felony aggravated DUI wrong way driving and drugs and weapons charges. The incident remains under investigation. This was the second serious accident on the road in two days.