A tragic vehicular collision early Friday morning has resulted in the death of a Golden Valley woman and the arrest of two men following an intensive manhunt through the Mohave Desert.
On Friday, May 2nd, at approximately 6:12 AM, deputies with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a two-vehicle traffic collision at the intersection of W. Shinarump Drive and S. Apache Road in Golden Valley. Emergency personnel from the Golden Valley Fire Department and River Medical Ambulance also responded.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered a devastating scene: a female driver was trapped in a heavily damaged vehicle. Despite the rapid efforts of rescue crews, the woman was pronounced deceased at the scene. She has been identified as Marian Merk, 61, a resident of Golden Valley. Ms. Merk’s family has been notified, and the community mourns the loss of a woman described by neighbors as kind-hearted and deeply rooted in the area.
The collision occurred when a Chevrolet pickup truck, traveling eastbound at high speed, crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a Hyundai SUV, which Ms. Merk had been driving westbound. The violent impact crushed the front of both vehicles.
In a shocking twist, both the driver and passenger of the pickup truck fled the scene on foot, heading north into the desert before emergency crews arrived.
An extensive air and ground search ensued, involving Mohave County Sheriff’s Deputies, Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers, and DPS Detectives, with aerial support from a DPS helicopter. During the search, authorities located one suspect, Brandon James Tosh, 30, of Kingman, hiding under a bush in a remote desert area north of the crash. He was taken into custody without resistance. A records check revealed active warrants for Disorderly Conduct and Assault, and Tosh was booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility. Investigators later determined Tosh was the passenger in the fleeing pickup.
As the investigation continued, authorities identified the driver of the Chevrolet pickup as Maximiliano Chavez Jr., 29, also of Kingman. A felony arrest warrant was issued for Chavez.
The manhunt came to a conclusion on the morning of Saturday, May 3rd, at approximately 7:56 AM, when deputies were called to the 3800 block of W. Bolsa Drive. A local resident had encountered a disoriented male asking for water. During their brief exchange, the man confessed to being involved in a vehicle crash and running from the scene. Deputies responded promptly and confirmed the man’s identity as Maximiliano Chavez Jr.
Chavez was taken into custody and transported to the Sheriff’s Office, where he underwent a formal interview. During questioning, Chavez admitted to being the driver of the pickup truck and confessed to having consumed alcohol throughout the night while returning from Laughlin. He acknowledged driving over 70 mph before the collision and fleeing the scene after witnessing the condition of the other driver. Chavez sustained only minor injuries, which were treated prior to his booking.
Following medical clearance, Chavez was booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility and charged with 2nd Degree Murder, a Class 1 felony.
Further investigation revealed that Brandon Tosh had intentionally provided false information to investigators during the initial stages of the case. As a result, Tosh now faces an additional charge of Hindering Prosecution, a Class 5 felony.
ORIGINAL RELEASE – 5/2/25 11:00 AM
The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office had initially issued an alert regarding a fatal hit-and-run collision on Shinarump Road in Golden Valley. The road was closed between Oatman Road and Coconino Road as law enforcement began their investigation. Authorities actively searched for two adult male suspects—one described as a white male, the other a Hispanic male—both wearing dark blue shirts and blue jeans. The Sheriff’s Office urged anyone with information or sightings of the suspects to call 928-753-0753, option 1.
The Sheriff’s Office has emphasized its commitment to pursuing justice for the family of Marian Merk and acknowledged the swift cooperation of local residents and law enforcement agencies. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with additional information is encouraged to come forward.
