Truck driver arrested in crash that killed MCSO officer was driving on a suspended license, authorities say

A semi-truck driver who faces possible charges in last week's death of a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office detention officer was allegedly driving a damaged vehicle on a suspended license at the time of the deadly accident, according to authorities.

Officer Justin Folsome died on State Route 85 on Nov. 24 when his car was rear-ended at a high speed, MCSO said in a statement.

Truck driver Jorge Yanez Campos, 62, was arrested from the hospital two days later and booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of manslaughter and aggravated assault. 

Campos was driving northbound in his commercial semi-truck near Buckeye when he rammed into three vehicles stopped at a red light at a speed of about 55 miles per hour, court documents said.

The truck first struck Folsome's car, crushing and rolling over it into the two cars in front of it.

Campos told police that he had looked up as he approached the red light but was unable to stop his truck. He also said that he may have blacked out due to his high blood pressure for which he had taken medication that morning.

Folsome died in the crash. Three others were taken to a hospital for treatment.

During the investigation, officers learned that Campos had his driving privileges suspended in Arizona for failing to appear in court for a citation on a separate collision.

They also learned that Campos was on his way from Nogales, Mexico, to San Bernardino, California, at the time of the collision. According to his driver's logbook, he had signed off to "sleeper-berth" status in between Nogales and Eloy.

"A driver that is in sleeper-berth status would be unable to drive the vehicle from Nogales to Eloy," court documents said. "Driving a vehicle while claiming sleeper-berth status is a common tactic to manipulate hours of service time limits." 

Campos told authorities that his truck was experiencing problems which caused it to shut off as he was driving, and he was traveling back to California for repairs, according to court documents. He had a coin jammed in the switch to bypass and override the sensor that caused it to shut off.

Folsome, 35, was employed by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office since June 2012, and his most recent assignment was at the Intake, Transfer and Release facility, MCSO said in a statement.

"This loss is tragic and heartbreaking,” said Sheriff Paul Penzone, in the statement. “I ask that Officer Folsome’s family receive all the love and support possible during this time of sadness and loss.”

Reach the reporter at emily.wilder@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @vv1lder.