PHOENIX — A 14-year-old is dead and four other teens were critically injured after a garbage truck and car collided in Phoenix Sunday morning.
Police say, rescue crews were called to the scene near 51st Avenue and Thunderbird Road around 4:40 a.m.
Police say a Hyundai was traveling southbound on 51st Avenue and ran a red light at Thunderbird Road. The driver, a 16-year-old boy, collided with an eastbound garbage truck driving through the intersection on a green light.
After the collision, the cars crashed into two trees nearby. The two vehicles came to a resting point and the garbage truck tipped over on top of the Hyundai.
Glendale and Phoenix fire crews arrived on scene and began lifesaving efforts. One passenger from the Hyundai, 14-year-old Ella Thomas, was pronounced dead at the scene. Another 14-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy, and two 16-year-old boys were transported to the hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries, authorities say.
The garbage truck driver, a man in his 50s, suffered non-life threatening injuries, according to Phoenix police.
Impairment was not a factor, police say, however, speed and failure to yield may be contributing factors to the crash.
