PHOENIX — A Phoenix police officer was involved in a deadly crash early Thursday morning.
The crash happened near 35th Avenue and Thunderbird Road just before 9 a.m.
Police say the officer was driving westbound on Thunderbird Rd. and attempted to turn south onto 35th Avenue when they collided with the second vehicle, which was traveling eastbound on Thunderbird Rd.
The second vehicle involved then continued and crashed into a light pole and then a power box, catching fire.
Firefighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire, but the driver did not survive. The driver has been identified as 19-year-old Ashley Vailes.
Police say Vailes entered the intersection on a red light just before the crash happened.
The officer involved and a prisoner in the vehicle were taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons but are expected to be okay.
Phoenix police say it is protocol for there to be an internal investigation after any crash involving police.
Details on what led up to the crash are under investigation.
No additional details have been released on this incident.
