12-year-old child critically injured in 5-vehicle crash on East Valley freeway

PHOENIX — A 12-year-old child was critically injured and two other people required hospitalization after a five-vehicle crash on an East Valley freeway Wednesday night.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety said the collision occurred on the southbound Loop 101 Price Freeway in Chandler.

The crash forced a closure at Chandler Boulevard for several hours, starting around 7 p.m., as crews responded.

Southbound Loop 101 (Price Fwy) near Chandler Blvd: A crash is blocking multiple lanes. pic.twitter.com/VNFU5oj5tp

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) March 5, 2026

By 5 a.m. Thursday, the closure had been lifted, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Northbound lanes of the freeway were not affected by the crash.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Serena O’Sullivan contributed to this report. This is an updated version of a story originally published on March 4, 2026.

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