Expand / Collapse search
☰
Extreme Heat Warning
until FRI 8:00 PM MST, Northwest Valley, South Mountain/Ahwatukee, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, East Valley, North Phoenix/Glendale, Central Phoenix, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek, Cave Creek/New River, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, Buckeye/Avondale, Deer Valley
9
Extreme Heat Warning
from WED 10:00 AM MST until FRI 8:00 PM MST, Aguila Valley, Northwest Pinal County, Globe/Miami, Gila Bend, Tonopah Desert, Superior, Rio Verde/Salt River, Dripping Springs, West Pinal County, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, San Carlos, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, Tonto Basin
Extreme Heat Warning
until MON 8:00 PM MST, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Gila Bend, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, San Carlos, Southeast Yuma County, Parker Valley, Kofa, Central La Paz, Superior, Dripping Springs, Globe/Miami, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, Gila River Valley, Northwest Pinal County, Tonto Basin, Aguila Valley, Rio Verde/Salt River, Yuma County, West Pinal County, Tonopah Desert
Extreme Heat Warning
from THU 10:00 AM MST until FRI 9:00 PM MST, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle
Red Flag Warning
from TUE 12:00 PM MDT until TUE 9:00 PM MDT, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau
Red Flag Warning
from TUE 11:00 AM MST until TUE 8:00 PM MST, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County
Red Flag Warning
from MON 12:00 PM MST until MON 8:00 PM MST, Northwest Deserts/Northwest Plateau, Lake Mead NRA/Colorado River-AZ side
Extreme Heat Warning
until FRI 7:00 PM MST, Grand Canyon Country
Extreme Heat Warning
from WED 10:00 AM MST until THU 10:00 PM MST, Lake Havasu and Fort Mohave, Northwest Deserts, Lake Mead National Recreation Area

2 sentenced for deadly Avondale street racing crash

By
Published  June 10, 2025 7:38am MST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 10 Phoenix
Drivers sentenced in deadly street racing crash

Drivers sentenced in deadly street racing crash

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office says Jakari Barksdale and Emanuel Cervantez will spend seven years in prison for their roles in the crash, which happened in May 2021 near Avondale Boulevard and Broadway Road.

The Brief

    • Jakari Barksdale and Emanuel Cervantez will spend seven years in prison for a 2021 street-racing crash that left a driver dead.
    • Authorities say Barksdale and Cervantez were driving over 100 mph when Barskdale hit a pickup truck near Avondale Boulevard and Broadway Road, killing the driver.
    • Barskdale and Cervantez pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Two Valley drivers have been sentenced in connection to a street-racing crash in the west Valley that left one person dead.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office says Jakari Barksdale, 21, and Emanuel Cervantez, 21, will spend seven years in prison for their roles in the Avondale crash, which happened in May 2021.

The backstory:

Barksdale and Cervantez were both 17 years old at the time of the crash. Authorities say they were driving at speeds of over 100 miles per hour near Avondale Boulevard and Broadway Road when Barksdale hit a pickup truck that was turning through the intersection.

The impact of the crash split the truck in half, killing the driver instantly.

Image 1 of 4
▼

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office says Jakari Barksdale and Emanuel Cervantez will spend seven years in prison for their roles in the crash, which happened in May 2021 near Avondale Boulevard and Broadway Road. (KSAZ-TV)

What they're saying:

"The investigation revealed that the race was pre-arranged by text message and recorded by bystanders," MCAO said in a news release. "Witnesses and cellphone video confirmed Barksdale’s BMW and a Dodge Charger, driven by Cervantez, were racing side by side when the BMW collided with the truck carrying the victim driver. Cervantez fled the scene after narrowly avoiding the crash."

Barksdale and Cervantez were prosecuted as adults. Barksdale pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault. Cervantez pleaded guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

"This wasn’t a tragic accident – it was the direct result of reckless choices and a complete disregard for human life," Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said. "This case is a stark reminder that street racing is not a game; it’s a crime with deadly consequences."

Map of where the crash happened

The Source

  • Information for this story was gathered from a news release by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

Crime and Public SafetyAvondaleNews