Westbound US 60 in Tempe partially reopens after crash
Feb 6, 2018, 5:05 PM | Updated: 9:25 pm
(Arizona Department of Transportation Photo)
(Arizona Department of Transportation Photo)
PHOENIX — Some of the westbound lanes of U.S. 60 have reopened after a major crash caused them to close on Tuesday, right in the middle of the afternoon commute.
The Arizona Department of Transportation said the HOV and left lanes of the freeway reopened just before 8:30 p.m., but the right lanes remained closed for the timebeing.
REOPEN: US 60 WB at Mill: The HOV and left lanes have reopened. Right lanes remain closed. #PhxTraffic pic.twitter.com/xr0l9E7DEj
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) February 7, 2018
The crash occurred around 5 p.m. on the freeway near Mill Avenue. It was expected to cause long delays. All traffic was forced to exit at Mill, Rural Road and McClintock Drive.
According to Sgt. Kameron Lee with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the closure was caused after troopers responded to a different crash.
Lee said troopers responded to a non-injury collision on the shoulder of the U.S. 60 east of Kyrene around 4:30 p.m.
After they learned one of the involved parties — a 21-year-old male — had a felony warrant and an order of protection, they detained him and placed him in the back of a patrol car.
Shortly after, another trooper arrived on scene to help take disposition of the man while the first trooper investigated the crash.
While the troopers were moving the suspect from one patrol car to the other, he broke free and ran into traffic, where law enforcement officials said he was struck by at least one vehicle.
The suspect was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver also suffered minor injuries.
Drivers were encouraged to use other routes to get around the crash, including the Loop 202 Red Mountain and Loop 202 Santan.
