Suspected street racer arrested after Phoenix freeway wreck

PHOENIX — A suspected street racer was arrested after a multivehicle wreck closed down a Phoenix freeway for several hours over the weekend, authorities said.

Julian Beltran-Cardenas, 31, was booked on multiple counts — including racing on highways, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault — after Saturday night’s crash on Interstate 10, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Beltran-Cardenas was allegedly racing other vehicles westbound near 43rd Avenue when he lost control of his Infiniti sedan, DPS said.

He struck a barrier wall before swerving across lanes and hitting a tractor-trailer, according to a press release. The impact sent the big rig into a pickup truck.

The freeway was closed from about 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Two patients were taken to a hospital — a child in extremely critical condition and a teenager in stable condition — the Phoenix Fire Department said.

Related

Arrest made after 9 injured in multivehicle wreck in West ValleyI-10 westbound lanes closed for hours in Phoenix after crashMain roadway between Maricopa and metro Phoenix closed after fatal incidentArizona voters to choose Republican and Democratic nominees for top education positionRetired Gilbert fire captain honored after dying from job-related cancerStorms make way into Valley with strong winds, scattered showers causing power outages