ARIZONA NEWS

4 people who died in fiery Sedona car crash on Sunday identified

Sep 20, 2022, 4:00 PM

(Pexels Photo)...

(Pexels Photo)

(Pexels Photo)

SEDONA, Ariz. (AP) — Four people who died in a fiery crash involving a passenger car and a tractor-tractor near the northern Arizona city of Sedona have been identified, authorities said Tuesday.

Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said the victims of Sunday’s crash were 24-year-old Athish Nagarajan and 23-year-old Dhinesh Nagarajan — both of Tempe — and 53-year-old Gnanappan Nagarajan and 45-year-old Vijaya Lakshmi-Gopal who were visiting from India.

It wasn’t immediately clear how the four people were related.

DPS officials said the driver of the big rig told troopers that the brakes failed and he couldn’t stop when he got off Interstate 17 at the Sedona exit.

According to DPS, the semi-truck drove through a stop sign and collided with a car, sending both vehicles down an embankment.

DPS officials said the tractor-trailer landed on top of the car and erupted in flames.

The truck driver was able to escape uninjured, but the four people inside the car were trapped and declared dead at the scene, according to authorities who said the crash remains under investigation.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Candy cane maze at Desert Farm Lights...

Payne Moses

Desert Farm Lights returning to West Valley for 3rd straight year

The holiday spirit is primed to return to the West Valley, as Desert Farm Lights will make its third appearance this winter.

37 minutes ago

Graphic rendering of Tempe road project on Smith Road...

Payne Moses

Several upcoming Tempe road closures as Smith Road improvement project continues

Drivers prepare yourselves, as the Smith Road improvement project in Tempe will see several closures through the first week of October.

47 minutes ago

West77 Partners....

Brandon Brown/Phoenix Business Journal

Real estate developer opens Valley office, plans multiple hotels

West77 Partners has opened an office in Scottsdale as it plans on building several hotels in the Phoenix market in the next several years.

57 minutes ago

Phoenix police car siren...

KTAR.com

Accident in northwest Phoenix leaves 5 minors in serious condition

A car accident in northwest Phoenix on Sunday left five minors in serious but stable condition, authorities said.

1 hour ago

Here's a look at the biggest Phoenix news stories from the weekend. (KTAR file photos)...

KTAR.com

Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Phoenix news stories from Sept. 13-15

From changes to Arizona's minimum wage to updates on a downtown development, here are the biggest Valley news stories from the weekend.

11 hours ago

The Siphon Fire prompted evacuation orders for the Tortilla Flat/Canyon Lake area...

KTAR.com

Crews progress toward containment on Siphon Fire near Apache Junction, evacuation orders lifted

Authorities on Sunday lifted evacuation orders that were due to the Siphon Fire near the community of Tortilla Flat near Canyon Lake, east of metro Phoenix.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

It wouldn’t hurt to get your AC checked after Arizona’s excruciating heat wave

A well-maintained air conditioning unit is vital to living a comfortable life inside, away from triple-digit heat in Arizona.

...

Sanderson Ford

3 new rides for 3 new road trips in Arizona

It's time for the Sanderson Ford Memorial Day sale with the Mighty Fine 69 Anniversary, as Sanderson Ford turned 69 years old in May.

...

DESERT INSTITUTE FOR SPINE CARE

Desert Institute for Spine Care is the place for weekend warriors to fix their back pain

Spring has sprung and nothing is better than March in Arizona. The temperatures are perfect and with the beautiful weather, Arizona has become a hotbed for hikers, runners, golfers, pickleball players and all types of weekend warriors.

4 people who died in fiery Sedona car crash on Sunday identified