Interstate 10 near 91st Avenue reopens after fatal pedestrian accident

PHOENIX – A fatal accident involving a pedestrian closed Interstate 10 at 91st Avenue in suburban Phoenix early Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety said Abelino Rudolfo, 54, of New Mexico was hit by an oncoming vehicle in a westbound lane near Loop 101 around 4:40 a.m.

Trooper Kameron Lee told KTAR News 92.3 FM that a captain who is a 25-year veteran of the agency said it was one of the worst pedestrian fatalities he had ever seen.

Investigators were trying to determine why Rudolfo was on the freeway.

The lanes reopened shortly before 10 a.m.

Authorities weren’t expecting criminal charges to be filed against the driver.

Originally, DPS said a passenger had jumped out of a vehicle that had stopped on the freeway and that the two drivers had stayed to be interviewed by investigators.

“The person that struck the pedestrian (is a) victim in my mind. This happened to them unwillingly,” Lee said.

DPS said in a tweet the shutdown would probably last for about three hours, but the Arizona Department of Transportation didn’t set a timetable for reopening.

Drivers were getting back on the freeway at 99th Avenue.

Troopers are investigating a pedestrian-involved, fatal crash WB I10 prior to SR101 in the west valley. Hard closure at 91st. Traffic routed via frontage rd to 99th and can re-enter I10. Estimated 3hr closure. Use Alt Routes. pic.twitter.com/e5nKW9kbvw

— Dept. Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) July 10, 2019

CLOSED: A collision has closed Interstate 10 westbound from 91st Avenue to the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway. There is no estimated reopening time. All traffic is exiting at 91st Avenue. #PHXtraffic

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) July 10, 2019

No other details were immediately available.

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