A jury in Arizona convicted Joel Stephan Goble (39) of Second Degree Murder and Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Collision, both Class 2 Felonies, following a brutal crash in which he struck a motorcyclist and then fled the scene. Goble was sentenced to 22 years in the Department of Corrections for the murder charge and seven years of probation for the hit-and-run on October 24, 2025.
The conviction stems from an October 5, 2024, incident where Goble, after hours of drinking at multiple locations, drove his truck over 100 miles per hour on the US 60 in Apache Junction, directly into Darrel Evans, who was riding his motorcycle home.
A ‘Preventable Tragedy’
The impact was so forceful that the motorcycle and rider were pinned to the front of the truck and dragged for over 4,000 feet—nearly a quarter mile—before Goble exited the freeway at Idaho Road and stopped. The friction from being pushed at high speed caused the motorcycle to catch fire.
Surveillance video showed the defendant attempting to dislodge the burning bike and severely injured rider before fleeing the scene, leaving the bleeding victim behind. Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers immediately stopped Goble as he attempted to escape. Goble’s blood was drawn hours later and registered a .132 BAC, well over the legal limit. The victim succumbed to his injuries…