MESA, AZ — One person is dead and two others are hurt after a crash involving a wrong-way driver late Saturday night in the East Valley.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officials say the crash occurred on Loop 202 near Power Road.
DPS says the wrong-way vehicle was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes near Power Road when it collided head-on with another vehicle.
50-year-old Nasser Chidiac was driving the vehicle that was struck. DPS says he died at the scene and his passenger suffered serious injuries.
Chidiac was a math teacher at Tempe High School and had been teaching there for three years.
Tempe High School sent the following statement following Cidiac's death:
"It’s with a heavy heart and deep sadness we share with you Nasser Chidiac, beloved Math teacher was tragically killed in a car accident Sunday night. Mr. Chidiac was in his third year of teaching at Tempe High and he will be missed by all that knew him. When circumstances like this arise, we wanted to also let you know that our school-based crisis management team (Counselors, Care 7, School Psychologists, Social Worker, and Behavior Interventionists) will be on standby to support any student or staff member if the need arises. We also realize that individuals can respond to grief in different ways and it's ok to process these feelings with your student(s). Mr. Chidiac’s professionalism and humility will be missed, please join our school and campus community in reflecting on the value of his service to Tempe High School and to his students."
The wrong-way driver has been identified as a 23-year-old man from San Tan Valley. He suffered life-threatening injuries, officials say.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, and DPS says impairment has not been ruled out.
The investigation is ongoing.
Loop 202 southbound was closed in the area for several hours overnight for the investigation, but it has since reopened.
The wrong-way crash came just hours before another deadly crash further west on Loop 202 near 44th Street in central Phoenix.
