Officials say two children are dead after a company street sweeper fell from a Loop 101 ramp onto Interstate 10 in the West Valley early Friday morning.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officials say the sweeper was on the southbound Loop 101 ramp to eastbound I-10 when, for an unknown reason, lost control on the southbound State Route 101 ramp to eastbound I-10, began to roll on the ramp, and went over the right-side barrier wall onto westbound I-10 below.
"There was two witnesses that saw the vehicle fall down the ramp and they stopped immediately and assisted," said Sgt. Jacob Melki with DPS.
"As soon as I saw it, I was like wow, that looks familiar. It looks just like that street sweeper I see on the 303 going north," said Kevin Scott, a delivery truck driver.
The truck was initially occupied by a woman driver and her two young girls, about 7 and 10 years old. The 10 year old was thrown from the vehicle as it rolled on the overpass, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman, 37, and the 7-year-old were both taken to the hospital.
The child in the truck reportedly died at the hospital.
The mother was still in the hospital as of Friday afternoon, but according to DPS, she has non life-threatening injuries and is expected to survive.
DPS says speed may have been a factor in the crash. It does not appear that seatbelts were being used at the time. They added that detectives are also investigating possible impairment as a factor.
The woman was reportedly working at the time of the crash, according to officials.
DPS is still investigating to see why the mother had her children with her on the job.
"For one, it is not professional. For two, what company would do that? For three, it just didn't look right," stated Scott.
I-10 westbound was closed for the investigation but has since reopened.
DPS says the woman's identity won't be released until she is released from the hospital.
UPDATE: All lanes are now open. https://t.co/C0L8b4CcKc
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) June 24, 2022
