PHOENIX — The Department of Public Safety says impairment may be to blame for a wrong-way crash on Interstate 17 Wednesday night.
Emergency crews were called to the scene near I-17 and Thomas Road around 7:40 p.m.
DPS officials say the wrong-way driver, a 45-year-old man, was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-17 when he collided with a Ford pickup truck with two people inside.
Officials say the wrong-way driver suffered serious injuries in the crash. The two people in the Ford pickup both have non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to the hospital for treatment.
Arizona Department of Transportation's wrong-way detection system captured the moment the wrong-way driver entered the freeway, missing one vehicle, and then veering into oncoming traffic, colliding with another car.
This crash involves a wrong-way driver. The WW driver has serious injuries. The two victims in the vehicle struck by the WW driver have non-life-threatening injuries. Impairment is suspected. Troopers will be conducting a thorough investigation with no ETA to reopen the freeway. https://t.co/pejOsKlfNB
— Dept. of Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) May 28, 2020
