A Tragedy in Prescott Valley

Highway 69 is a busy highway that runs between Prescott and Prescott Valley. Anyone who has driven it in recent years has seen a young woman jogging along it.

Jessica Martin ran everyday before or after work from her job at New Frontier grocery to her home in Prescott Valley six or seven miles away. After the local paper did a feature on her, Jessica became well known to many. Her running style, arms bent at the elbows and hands extended in the air, was unique. When you saw her, you knew it was Jessica.

She ran to battle bi-polar disorder. Her goal was the Boston Marathon.

While running early in the morning on August 15th, Jessica was struck by a pickup truck on Highway 69. She was helicoptered to a Phoenix hospital but did not survive her injuries.

The outpouring of grief has been incredible. A roadside cross was set up at the accident site. People have left flowers, stuffed animals and other remembrances.

There has been a constant stream of visitors. It continues nearly two weeks after the accident.


Her jogging shoes hang there.


Handwritten notes have been posted by strangers attesting to the meaning that Jessica's life had for others.


Jessica celebrated her 29th birthday just three days before her death.

Seeing her run was inspiring and gave me great joy. She touched more people then she will ever know.