Authorities say a DPS trooper and a citizen were forced to jump out of the way of a suspected impaired driver on the Loop 202 in Tempe.
The Department of Public Safety reports that on June 3 about 9:30 p.m. they responded to a multi-car collision on the Loop 202 near Priest Drive.
UPDATE: HOV and left two lanes now blocked on L-202 WB near Priest. Right lane remains open. Drivers should expect delays. #phxtraffic pic.twitter.com/sklrqncdRt
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) June 4, 2018
A DPS trooper and his civilian ride-along were placing flares on the road when a speeding vehicle slammed on its brakes, forcing both men to jump out of the way.
The trooper knocked on the hood of the car and yelled at the driver to stop, court documents said.
Instead, the driver, 27-year-old Miguel Angel Arciniega, drove off and nearly hit the trooper a second time, court paperwork said. He then allegedly crossed over the flares and continued into heavy traffic — almost hitting several cars.
The trooper got back into his vehicle and stopped Arciniega a short distance later.
DPS says they located two open 24-ounce cans of beer in the car. When the trooper asked the suspect if he had seen the flares in the road, he said "I'm sorry. Can you just let me go?"
Arciniega has been charged with DUI and endangerment.
