MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ — Three people are dead after an early Sunday morning wrong-way crash on the Beeline Highway in the East Valley.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officials say they were called to the crash on SR-87 just south of Shea Boulevard around 4:30 a.m.
They say a vehicle was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes before striking another vehicle head-on.
DPS has confirmed three people died in the crash, and all of the three victims were passengers in the northbound vehicle.
The two survivors of the crash were the two drivers involved, according to DPS.
The victims have been identified as:
- Victor Perez Coralles, 25 of Mesa
- Emilia Rodriguez, 42, of Mesa
- Jesus Guadalupe Nunez-Rodriguez, 26 of Mesa
DPS officials believe impairment to be a factor for the wrong-way driver.
The suspected driver, identified by police as 41-year-old Jose Manuel Serrrano-Orduno, was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the crash.
He has since been released into police custody and was booked into jail to face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault and endangerment.
According to court paperwork, Serrano-Orduno's blood alcohol level following the crash was .249.
By ABC15's count, this was the 11th wrong-way crash in the Valley this year.
One of the victims, Emilia Rodriguez, leaves behind four children and four grandchildren.
ABC15's Patrick Hayes spoke with her family. When asked what they're going to miss most about their mom, her children responded:
Nicole Robles: "Everything. Being able to hug, kiss her, talk to her. There's a lot of things. I'm going to miss my kids being able to see their grandma. I know my son is going to ask for her and it's just going to be hard on him when I give him the news."
Yssac Robles: "Just seeing her laugh. Just being able to sit down with everyone. Being able to sit down with all my sisters and family at a table together…"
The family has created a GoFundMe account to help pay for expenses.
