Sierra Vista man facing murder, DUI charges following wrong-way crash

TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - A Sierra Vista man, a Customs and Border Protection Officer, is facing a host of charges in connection with a fatal wrong-way crash on Friday, June 18.

Arizona DPS said Clifford James Johnson, 38, hit another vehicle while driving the wrong way on SR 90 near Sierra Vista.

KOLD asked CBP about Johnson and they released the following statement, without naming him.

“On Friday, a CBP employee was involved in a vehicular accident involving two cars on SR 90,” the CBP said in a release. “The CBP employee was off-duty at the time. The collision is under investigation by Department of Public Safety. No further information is available.”

Johnson, who has been with CBP since May 2019, had three minors in the vehicle with him. One child, a 9-year-old boy, died at the scene while the other two suffered serious injuries.

Johnson had minor injuries and was booked into the Cochise County Jail on charges of second-degree murder, aggravated DUI, endangerment, child abuse and criminal damage.

DPS said two adults were in the vehicle Johnson hit and that they suffered serious injuries.

According to a GoFundMe drive, the adults are Layne and Michell East. As of 1:45 p.m. Monday, more than $13,000 has been raised.