Eastbound I-10 in Chandler reopens after fatal crash shuts freeway down

PHOENIX — Eastbound Interstate 10 in Chandler has reopened Thursday afternoon after a fatal crash shut down the freeway for hours, authorities said.

At least five people were killed, trapped inside burning vehicles in the East Valley, authorities said.

The wreck in eastbound lanes near Chandler Boulevard was one in a series of crashes on that stretch of freeway over the course of about three hours, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

Troopers said around 6:15 a.m. a semitruck smashed into a passenger car that was pushed into another semitruck and other vehicles. A substantial fire broke out that lasted for two hours.

“We have five victims so far … and at least three to four vehicles involved,” DPS spokesman Bart Graves told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

There appeared to be tires from another vehicle at the scene but investigators are still trying to determine whether they belong to a trailer from one of the vehicles or another vehicle, he said.

“We believe a semi driver not paying attention collided with vehicles that were slowing for the initial crash,” Graves said.

The crash followed two other nearby wrecks involved big rigs.

The first wreck shut down eastbound lanes farther south near Riggs Road around 2 a.m.

Shortly after that, around 3:30 a.m., another semi-truck crashed and burst into flames in eastbound lanes near Chandler Boulevard. No injuries were reported.

Eastbound lanes near Queen Creek Road were shut down for hours for that investigation and cleanup.

“All three of these crashes were preventable,” Graves said. “Speed was a factor in all of them, especially with this five-person fatal crash [and] inattention to driving.”

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Luke Forstner contributed to this report.

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