Student killed in one‑car rollover
Four others injured in June 22 accident
by Barry Cohen

CAVE CREEK – Caitlyn Janssen was exactly one month from celebrating her 16th birthday when the Scottsdale resident was killed in a one‑car rollover the evening of June 22 near 56th Street and Carefree Highway.

“She was a good student, loyal, respectful and very involved in her faith,” said David Gonsalves, principal at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Scottsdale, where Janssen would have been entering her junior year this fall. Gonsalves said Janssen attended Cactus Shadows High School as a freshman.

Full details of the accident won’t be released until the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has completed its investigation, and that could take one to two months, according to Doug Madison, media relations officer. However, Madison said five teens–three boys and two girls–were in the vehicle that was traveling north on 56th Street from Dove Valley Road at approximately 9:45 p.m., when the driver evidently lost control near Carefree Highway. The vehicle left the road onto the shoulder, where it rolled several times, according to Madison. He said two occupants not wearing seat belts were ejected from the vehicle, one of whom was believed to have been Janssen.

Although MCSO would not release the names of the others involved in the accident,

Gonsalves said he understood two of the boys and one girl were students at Cactus Shadows.

Rural/Metro ambulances were called to the scene and all five occupants were transported to local medical facilities, according to Alison Cooper, public information officer for the company. Two were transported by air ambulance to John C. Lincoln‑North Mountain Hospital in Phoenix, one to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix by air ambulance, and two to Scottsdale Healthcare‑Osborn by ground ambulance.

Reach the reporter at barry@thedesertadvocate.com.