Troopers are investigating after a deadly crash involving a pedestrian on a Scottsdale freeway early Saturday morning.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, troopers responded to the westbound lanes of Loop 101 near Hayden Road just after 1 a.m.
Initial calls alerted troopers about a disabled car with no lights on in the right lane. Shortly after, callers reported a body in the roadway at the same location.
DPS says a white woman in her forties had gotten out of the disabled car and was struck by four or five passing vehicles.
Her body was found a few hundred feet from her disabled car.
“This is, as you can imagine, a very painstakingly intricate investigation because she was struck so many times,” DPS spokesman Bart Graves said.
Impairment is not believed to be a factor in the incident. At least four vehicles involved in the crash stayed on scene.
David Hollon was one of those who accidentally hit the woman. “I was really hoping it was a tire,” he said. “But the impact was far greater.”
He knew he hit something hard so he said he immediately pulled over. That’s when he learned that he had hit a person, but he wasn’t the only one.
“It was quite a chaotic scene,” he said. “It was car, after car, after car hits the body after me.”
“Everybody was a little freaked out,” Hollon explained. “You look at your car and you see body parts and clothing. There’s nothing anybody could have done, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”
Graves is cautioning drivers, especially during the holiday season, to be careful on the roadways.
He said if you’re having car trouble, try to drive off of the interstate.
If you can’t, make sure you’re pulled over in the shoulder, stay in your car and call 911.
“Especially late at night,” he said. “When it’s this dark, do not get out of your vehicle and start walking around.”
“It’s sad,” Hollon said. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know why she ended up in the road, but obviously it’s a very sad time for another family. Somebody has a huge loss tonight.”
Graves said DPS is still working to identify the woman. He said they will use fingerprints and dental records to find out who she is.
Westbound Loop 101 was closed from Princess to Scottsdale roads while crews worked the scene until about 9 a.m.
