(First InMaricopa) The man killed in Saturday’s two-vehicle crash on State Route 238 west of Maricopa has been identified as Robert Jeffrey Pifer, 29, of California, the Arizona Department of Public Safety confirmed to InMaricopa.
The crash occurred 2 miles west of the Pinal–Maricopa County line near Rio Bravo Road. DPS said troopers responded at 5:25 a.m. and confirmed one person was dead at the scene. The highway was closed for several hours before reopening around 9 a.m.
Pifer died of multiple blunt-force injuries, according to the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner. His car sustained catastrophic front-end damage and was towed from the scene as investigators concluded their work.
Public records show Pifer lived in San Marcos, Calif., a suburb of San Diego. SR 238 is the fastest route from San Diego County to metro Phoenix.
Pifer’s girlfriend, Sarah “Charlie” Royer, 30, lives in Mesa, according to online public records. The two announced their relationship publicly on Aug. 19.
On his Instagram page, Pifer described himself as a “dream chaser, tattoo collector and JDM car enthusiast.” Many of his posts highlighted his customized turquoise VeilSide RX-7 Fortune, a rare Japanese sports car. In the most recent photo, he smiles beside Royer on a Southern California beach, wearing his O’Reilly Auto Parts uniform.
On LinkedIn, Pifer described himself as “a hardworking individual that’s versed in my passions.”
DPS has not yet released details about what caused the wreck or information about the other driver involved. The investigation remains ongoing.
“At age 29, I can definitely say I’m proud of where I’m at in life,” Pifer recently posted on social media. “I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot.”
