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Police: Retired Rio Verde deputy chief killed in Buckeye crash

KNXV Eric Merrill.jpeg
Posted at 9:52 AM, May 25, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-25 21:39:41-04

BUCKEYE, AZ — Police say the man killed in a morning crash was a recently retired deputy fire chief.

Officers responded to a crash at Palo Verde and Yuma roads Saturday morning.

Police say the collision caused both vehicles to roll over, but land upright.

A Buckeye police spokesperson said Saturday afternoon the person who died was former Rio Verde Deputy Fire Chief Eric Merrill, who had retired two weeks previously after a 40-year career.

Merrill started with Rural Metro before spending the past 15 years with Rio Verde, a fire district serving an area north and east of Scottsdale.

Merrill's son was among those injured in the crash. His injuries are not life threatening. Police did not immediately have an update on the condition of a second person who was hurt.

The road has since reopened to traffic.

Police said the circumstances surrounding the crash remained under investigation.