In 2nd tragedy of season, Pumas mourn loss of cheer parent killed on I-10 Monday

By David Iversen, Reporter
May 22, 2025

On the same field where the football team practices with the cheer squad, Maricopa Pumas families met at Copper Sky last night to say goodbye.

Army 1st Sgt. Ronald Clinton, a devoted father to one of the Puma cheerleaders, died in a freeway accident early Monday morning along Interstate 10.

The candlelight vigil was held just days after Clinton, 41, was cheering from the sidelines alongside his daughter, Nylah Rose Clinton, at a Puma football game. On Saturday, he was dressed in all white, seated under a canopy with his family, escaping the heat.

On Monday, a post on the Pumas’ official page read, “Puma Strong: Again, we need your prayers, one of our cheer parents was in a horrible accident and passed away. My heart hurts so much for their family.” (In February, the football team held a prayer vigil for teammates injured in a grisly head-on crash on State Route 238.)

Messages left for the family of Ron Clinton at a vigil held Wednesday. May 21, 2025 [David Iversen]

The Arizona Department of Public Safety told ABC15 that the crash occurred just before 1:30 a.m. Monday on eastbound I-10 near 27th Avenue in Phoenix. Clinton was driving to work when an SUV struck him from behind, pushing his car into the path of a commercial box truck. The box truck then collided with the driver’s side of Clinton’s vehicle. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died. Another person involved in the crash was also hospitalized. No charges have been filed.

Clinton’s loss has left a deep void across the Maricopa community and among fellow service members.

“He was just at the game on Saturday,” said Coach TT, vice president of the Lady Puma Cheer organization and coach. “Then Monday morning, gone. If I feel this broken, I can’t even imagine what his wife and girls are feeling. He was her soulmate, her everything.”

Lady Puma “Coach TT” tells a story about Ron Clinton to his mourning family and a crowd from the Puma football organization. May 21, 2025. [David Iversen]

During the vigil, dozens of families and friends stood side by side, lighting candles. The cheer team released balloons against the dusky sky. Friends and colleagues shared stories about “Ron” that brought the family both heavy tears and laughter.

Coach TT shared a story about a recent cheer competition in which Clinton had to dance, but didn’t like the selected song.

Lady Puma cheerleaders light their candles at a vigil held Wednesday night at Copper Sky. May 21, 2025. [David Iversen]

“He didn’t want to go up there, but he did it for his daughter,” she recalled. “And the DJ played the wrong song. He was so mad! But he danced anyway. For her. That’s who he was.”

Nylah Clinton, 11, is handed a flag from a member of the U.S. Army who worked with 1st Sergeant Ron Clinton, her father. May 21, 2025. [David Iversen]

Ronald’s daughter, 11-year-old Nylah, consoled her mother and quietly hugged members of her cheer team.

“She’s beyond her years,” said Coach TT. “She’s carrying herself with strength, but you can see the heartbreak.”

“Ron always said, ‘Family first,’” said Alicia Jones with the Maricopa Peregrines Club. “That’s what he lived by. He taught me that work isn’t everything. Your people are.”

Military colleagues remembered Clinton as a man of integrity, humor and mentorship. One service member, who served with Clinton, presented a flag to his daughter and quietly spoke to the family.

“Just last week, I showed [Clinton] my new car. I got promoted before my birthday, and he told me, ‘I’m proud of you. You listened to me,’” said an Army friend who identified himself as Harper. “When I heard the news Monday, I cried for three straight days.”

Another Army fried, who identified himself as Jose, recalled Clinton’s loyalty to the Los Angeles Chargers; the two men reveled in their AFC West rivalry. “When he saw my Raiders flag, he said, ‘Take that trash down!’ Every season we’d trade jokes. I’ll miss that.”

“You are his legacy,” said Jose. “Not the Army. Not the medals. You. He spoke of you with pride. And we are here for you, not just tonight, but for every birthday, every game, every milestone.”

Puma President Evangeline Cobb holds a mourning family member at a vigil for Ron Clinton. May 21, 2025. [David Iversen]

As the vigil ended, a final prayer asked for comfort and strength for the family, and for the community to carry Clinton’s light forward.

“Even though these candles go out,” said pastor Kenny Rickard with Christ’s Church of the Valley, “his memory never will.”

The Maricopa community and the Puma Cheer family were raising money at the vigil and pledged to support them for the long road ahead.

“That wonderful woman right here spearheaded everything,” said Coach TT, pointing to Maricopa Pumas President Evangeline Cobb. “She’s why we’re here today.”

Saturday was the last game of the Pumas’ season. This season was bookended by tragedy, as it started with several of the Cobb children involved in the car wreck that nearly killed two people, one aged 5.

Those kids survived and were playing at a nearby playground last night.

Their father and Pumas founder Jeff Cobb sat on a bench as last night’s vigil ended, watching his children play.

“You have no idea how close they came,” he said without breaking his gaze from his kids. “I’m holding on to every day with these kids.”

At a candlelight vigil, members of the Lady Pumas cheer squad surround Nylah Rose Clinton, who lost her father Monday. May 21, 2025. [David Iversen]

David Iversen, Reporter

A seasoned investigative journalist, David has worked across broadcast, print, podcasts and documentaries. His podcast, The Line, won a DuPont Award in 2021. A Columbia Journalism School graduate, David arrived in Maricopa in 2021.