59-year-old man arrested in connection with Phoenix wrong-way crash that killed 10-year-old

A 59-year-old man is facing second-degree murder and aggravated assault charges after a wrong-way crash in Phoenix that killed a 10-year-old girl on Wednesday, authorities said.

The Phoenix Police Department identified the man taken into custody as Richard Blackstar.

First responders were called to a two-vehicle crash between a black truck, driven by Blackstar, and silver passenger car near 16th and Washington streets around 11 a.m.

The occupants of the silver car, 34-year-old Frankeesue Palazzo and the 10-year-old girl, were taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. The girl died from her injuries on Thursday, while Palazzo remains in critical condition.

Investigators said the silver car was heading south on 18th Street when the black truck traveling the wrong way on Washington Street struck it in the side.

Blackstar was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was evaluated and believed to be impaired when the collision occurred, police said.

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