3 killed over weekend in fiery collision on East Valley freeway

PHOENIX – Three people were killed over the weekend in a fiery collision on an East Valley freeway, authorities confirmed Monday.

A Kia Sorento SUV and a Toyota Matrix hatchback collided early Saturday on the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway near McDowell Road in Mesa, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

DPS believes one of the vehicles was traveling in the wrong direction in the eastbound HOV lane before the crash.

The vehicles were fully engulfed in flames when state troopers arrived at the scene around 2:30 a.m.

After the fire was extinguished, two bodies were found in one vehicle and one body was found in the other.

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to confirm the victims’ identities, DPS said Monday.

UPDATE: All lanes are now open.

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) December 27, 2025

Eastbound Loop 202 was closed for about five hours in the wake of the collision.

No other details were made available. The investigation is ongoing.

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