39-Year-Old Woman Dies After Car Plunges 1,000 Feet Down Arizona Mountainside

Mar. 15, 2025

Kristen Little.Photo:Kris/facebook

Kris/facebook

A 39-year-old woman has tragically died after her car fell 1,000 feet down an Arizona mountainside.Kristin Little was ejected from her vehicle and died as it fell in the Thumb Butte area in Prescott, Ariz., on Friday, Aug. 16, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YSCO) confirmed in anews release.Little is believed to have been driving along Thumb Butte Loop Road when she “veered to the left causing her to go off the road and down the mountain.”YSCO deputies were called to the scene at approximately 5 p.m. local time where they embarked on a measured process in locating and retrieving Little.“Deputies were able to locate the vehicle approximately 1000 feet down the steep mountainside, and after hiking down, also located a deceased occupant of the car,” the release stated. “The victim was identified as 39-year-old Kristin Little of Prescott, who had been ejected from the car about halfway down the mountainside.”Little died after her car fell over a cliff in Prescott, Ariz., on Aug. 16.Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office/facebook“Due to the difficult terrain and the coming darkness, the decision was made to wait until light this morning to recover the victim, with YCSO personnel remaining with Ms. Little throughout the night,” the release added.Little was transported to the Medical Examiner’s office on Saturday, Aug. 17. No other passengers were found or appeared to have been driving with her at the time of the incident.She had been traveling with her dog CJ, however, who escaped unharmed and was brought to her parents’ home, her mom, Jinger Cutting, tells PEOPLE.“It’s just another indication there is a God out there because God is giving me CJ,” she adds. “I know Krissy is one of God’s Angel Warriors now.  But I’m a little angry with God right now. But someday I will understand.”Cutting went on to say that authorities were able to find her daughter because she had recently signed up for “YCSO emergency notification through her GPS.““They were called out immediately and were on site within an hour,” Cutting says. “In this area, you would have never found her otherwise had that not been on.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

A 39-year-old woman has tragically died after her car fell 1,000 feet down an Arizona mountainside.

Kristin Little was ejected from her vehicle and died as it fell in the Thumb Butte area in Prescott, Ariz., on Friday, Aug. 16, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YSCO) confirmed in anews release.

Little is believed to have been driving along Thumb Butte Loop Road when she “veered to the left causing her to go off the road and down the mountain.”

YSCO deputies were called to the scene at approximately 5 p.m. local time where they embarked on a measured process in locating and retrieving Little.

“Deputies were able to locate the vehicle approximately 1000 feet down the steep mountainside, and after hiking down, also located a deceased occupant of the car,” the release stated. “The victim was identified as 39-year-old Kristin Little of Prescott, who had been ejected from the car about halfway down the mountainside.”

Little died after her car fell over a cliff in Prescott, Ariz., on Aug. 16.Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office/facebook

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office/facebook

“Due to the difficult terrain and the coming darkness, the decision was made to wait until light this morning to recover the victim, with YCSO personnel remaining with Ms. Little throughout the night,” the release added.

Little was transported to the Medical Examiner’s office on Saturday, Aug. 17. No other passengers were found or appeared to have been driving with her at the time of the incident.

She had been traveling with her dog CJ, however, who escaped unharmed and was brought to her parents’ home, her mom, Jinger Cutting, tells PEOPLE.

“It’s just another indication there is a God out there because God is giving me CJ,” she adds. “I know Krissy is one of God’s Angel Warriors now.  But I’m a little angry with God right now. But someday I will understand.”

Cutting went on to say that authorities were able to find her daughter because she had recently signed up for “YCSO emergency notification through her GPS.”

“They were called out immediately and were on site within an hour,” Cutting says. “In this area, you would have never found her otherwise had that not been on.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

source: people.com