Three people have died, including a seven-year-old boy, after two separate traffic collisions that involved multiple vehicles on 43rd Ave. in Phoenix on Sunday.
The Phoenix Police Department is investigating both incidences and believe either speed or impairment was a major factor with the driver invovled in the first collision.
Both accidents occurred within approximately 20 minutes of each other.
Toyota Camry Strikes Pedestrians Then Other Vehicles
The first series of crashes began when a Toyota Camry driven by a 23-year-old-man traveling on N 43rd Ave. left the road and ran onto the sidewalk striking a group of pedestrians near Maryland Ave around 2:30 p.m.
A 17-year-old girl was killed and a seven-year-old boy was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.
An eight-year-old girl, a five-year-old boy and a 24-year-old woman who were a part of the group of pedestrians were taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Toyota Camry then continued to drive back into 43rd Ave. and began traveling southbound in a northbound lane when he struck an approaching minivan containing eight people.
A two-year-old passenger in the minivan was taken to the hospital, while seven other passengers reported suffering minor to no injuries.
After causing two collisions, the driver of the Toyota Camry continued his path and struck a Toyota Tundra. The driver of the pickup truck was not hurt.
The driver of the Toyota Camry was hospitalized with significant non-life threatening injuries.
The Phoenix Police Department is investigating the multiple-crash incident to determine if impairment or speed were factors in causing the collisions.
Failure to Yield Causes Series of Collisions
The second series of collisions occurred around 2:50 p.m. later just one mile from the first accident scene, near 43rd and Montebello Ave.
An unlicensed 17-year-old girl was driving southbound on 43rd Ave. and did not yield to other vehicles, causing her to collide with a vehicle driven by a 22-year-old man.
His vehicle was then thrown off course and crashed head-on into a pickup truck. The 22-year-old driver died from his injuries, while another five were taken to the hospital to be treated for critical injuries.
The condition of the teenaged driver was not released. Police are investigating the collision but do not believe speed or impairment were factors in the crash.
Arizona’s Turbulent History with Traffic Safety
An annual report from the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (AHAS) in 2016 rated Arizona as one of the most dangerous states for motorist and pedestrian safety.
The report stated that Arizona lacks overall enforcement for laws designed to enforce seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, and passenger safety and child passenger protection.
The 2016 AHAS report concluded that Arizona ranked as one of the worst states for utilizing traffic safety laws and as a result, received a “red” rating.
Phoenix also received the ranking as the city with the most aggressive drivers in the U.S. in a study conducted by Automatic, a San Francisco-based connected car company.
Legal Help for Serious Car Accidents
Traffic accidents like those that occurred Sunday are unforeseen tragedies that will have long-lasting and far-reaching effects on those involved.
While the loss of life and pain and suffering experienced by those who survived are tremendous tolls to pay, the financial burdens that follow can leave a serious impact as well.
If you lost a loved one because of a negligent driver, the Phillips Law Group can help you seek the justice and compensation you deserve.
Our experienced car accident attorneys have helped numerous victims and families throughout Phoenix and Arizona with legal and insurance matters during the difficult time following a deadly car accident.
We will fight for the justice you and your loved one deserves. We understand the tremendous weight placed upon your shoulders at this time, which is why we try to make this process as easy as possible.
We do this by providing our services on a contingency fee basis, which means you only pay us if we recover damages for your claim. Our attorneys also provide a free initial consultation to discuss your claim that comes with no obligation to hire our firm. Do not hesitate to contact us as soon as possible for professional legal help with your claim.
Call 602-222-222 if you have been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident.
