The Latest: Phoenix freeway reopens after fatal wreck
The Latest on serious wrecks on Interstate 17 in north Phoenix (all times local):
10:50 a.m.
Southbound Interstate 17 has reopened in north Phoenix following wrecks in which a motorcyclist was injured in an initial wreck and then killed along with a Good Samaritan in a subsequent collision.
Authorities say the Good Samaritan killed Monday morning was a woman who was among several people who stopped to aid the injured motorcyclist.
Two other people who also stopped to help were seriously injured in the secondary crash.
According to the state Department of Public Safety, an SUV crashed into the scene of the first wreck.
No identities were released.
Southbound I-17 was closed the Loop 101 freeway for about five hours.
8:55 a.m.
Authorities say one Good Samaritan was killed and two others seriously injured on a Phoenix freeway when they were struck after stopping to help an injured motorcyclist who also was killed in the secondary wreck.
An Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman says only one of four passers-by who stopped to help the motorcyclist on Interstate 17 escaped injury when another driver’s vehicle smashed into the initial accident scene Monday morning.
Trooper Kameron Lee says investigators ruled out impairment and are investigating whether distraction or something else caused the secondary collision. He says it’s not immediately known what caused the motorcyclist’s bike to go down.
No identities were released.
Lee says the accident cleanup and investigation will keep southbound I-17 closed at the Loop 101 freeway until late Monday morning.
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This story has been corrected with trooper saying investigators were checking whether distraction, not impairment, caused the secondary collision.
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6:45 a.m.
Southbound Interstate 17 is closed in north Phoenix as authorities investigate two serious crashes, including a fatal collision involving a motorcycle.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety says there will be an extended closure of southbound I-17 as troopers investigate the crashes that occurred in the vicinity of Union Hills Drive and the Loop 101 freeway early in the Monday morning commute.
The Arizona Department of Transportation says southbound traffic on I-17 is being diverted onto the Loop 101 during the Monday morning commute.
The Phoenix Fire Department earlier said there were four people in critical condition.
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6:30 a.m.
Southbound Interstate 17 is closed at the Loop 101 freeway in north Phoenix because of a serious accident involving multiple vehicles.
The Arizona Department of Transportation says southbound traffic on I-17 is being diverted onto the Loop 101 during the Monday morning commute.
ADOT says there’s no estimate when southbound I-17 will reopen and that drivers should plan for delays and use alternate routes.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.
