1 driver killed, another seriously injured in wrong-way collision on Phoenix freeway

PHOENIX – A wrong-way driver was killed and another person was seriously injured in a collision on Interstate 17 in Phoenix early Wednesday, authorities said.

The Department of Public Safety started getting calls about a car heading north on southbound I-17 near 16th Street around 3:20 a.m.

“A very short amount of time later, under two minutes later, it was reported that it had collided with another vehicle,” Sgt. Eric Andrews told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

The deadly collision occurred near Seventh Avenue.

“The wrong-way driver was determined to be an 18-year-old female, and she was declared deceased on scene,” Andrews said.

The man driving the other vehicle, a pickup truck, was hospitalized with what Andrews called “a significant injury.”

Southbound I-17 was shut down ahead of the crash at Durango Street while crews cleared the wreckage and investigators assessed the scene. The roadway reopened before 7:30 a.m.

What to do if you see a wrong-way driver

Andrews said the medical examiner will determine if impairment was a factor in the collision, which is usually the case with wrong-way drivers.

“Impairment is always something that we want to discourage, especially while driving,” he said. “But with that, if you do see the signs lit up while you’re driving on the highway that say there’s a potential wrong-way vehicle ahead, just make sure you slow down, move to the right and pay even closer attention to what’s going on ahead of you.”

Andrews said he didn’t know if the overhead signs were activated with a wrong-way alert before Wednesday’s crash. He added that if you witness a wrong-way driver, call 911 immediately.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ginia McFarland contributed to this report.

Get the latest KTAR News 92.3 FM traffic alerts sent straight to your phone by texting “TRAFFIC” to 620620.

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