BULLHEAD CITY – A Bullhead City woman will go to the Arizona Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in a fatal traffic accident. Deputy Mohave County Attorney Jacob Cote said 51-year-old Lidia Tapia was intoxicated by alcohol and had methamphetamine in her system when the Camry she was operating rear-ended a Ford Expedition on Highway 68 in Golden Valley in Oct., 2022.

The driver of the other vehicle, Michael Bunes, 51, Golden Valley, was dead at the scene of the accident. Three passengers in the Expedition and Tapia were treated for injuries at Kingman Regional Medical Center.

Aggravated assault, criminal damage and DUI charges are dismissed in the plea deal. An unrelated criminal case is also dismissed in exchange for a manslaughter conviction.

Punishment is stipulated at 15 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled Feb. 26th before Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen.