Goodyear man indicted in wife's death after car crashed into lake, alcohol found in system

A man who was booked on manslaughter and extreme DUI charges after officials say he crashed his vehicle into a lake with his wife in Goodyear — resulting in her death — has since been indicted for second-degree murder.

Anthony Maiorana, 35, was driving in a gated community near CantaMia Parkway and Tanglewood Drive on March 22 when police say he drove over and repeatedly hit a nearby curb and traversed onto the sidewalk and grass, causing the vehicle to spin and crash into a concrete culvert on the front passenger side.

The car then soared approximately 100 feet in the air before landing in the water where it began to sink.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office said Maiorana screamed that his wife, 35-year-old Megan Maiorana was trapped inside the vehicle and, despite rescue efforts from officers and bystanders, they were unable to remove her from the vehicle in time.

The agency said Maiorana told officers that they were driving back from a baseball game when the crash occurred.

The Goodyear Police Department reported that Anthony Maiorana had a blood alcohol level of 0.234% after the crash — nearly three times the legal limit.

“I commend the brave citizens and officers in this situation who attempted to save this victim’s life,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement. “We are pursuing this charge as a result of the husband’s reckless behavior.”

Mitchell did not specify why her office sought the more serious second-degree murder charge over the original charge of manslaughter.

Reach public safety and breaking news reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @PerryVandell.