Two people were killed in crash in the early morning on Monday, November 14. According to officials, two teenage victims were rear-ended at high speed on 35th Avenue in Phoenix, near Vogel Avenue by a suspected drunk driver and pronounced deceased at the scene.
Phoenix Police Department Lieutenant Paul Taylor released a statement after the crash via email.
“The impact was severe, and the occupants of the vehicle that sustained the rear-end damage were both pronounced deceased. The driver of the other vehicle is suspected to be impaired… [He was driving] well over the speed limit in this area, which is usually between 35 and 40 miles an hour -- well over that… [Debris from the wreck was] strewn in the northbound lanes for a good 1,000 feet or so.”
The Honda the victims were driving was so badly damaged in the crash that firefighters responding to the crash needed to cut the vehicle in order to retrieve their bodies. The driver remained at the scene following the crash, and was booked on charges of second-degree murder and endangerment.
Officials are hoping that local surveillance footage will be able to give them more information about the events leading up to the crash. The section of 35th avenue between Peoria and Dunlap avenues remained closed through the morning to allow the Vehicular Crimes Unit to conduct their on-scene investigation.
Lt. Taylor closed his emailed statement with a plea for drivers to stay safe on the road, and to stay off the road entirely if they were in any way impaired.
“The thing that we like to remind people on a regular basis is always the same things. Make sure you wear your seat belt. When you're driving out here, obey the speed limits. And for goodness sakes, if you've had something to drink -- or even if you're too tired or you feel like you can't drive -- please use a ride service, a taxi or call someone because this [fatal crash] is, unfortunately, most likely going to be the result of someone not heeding that advice.”
Tens of thousands of people are injured in auto accidents every year, resulting in billions of dollars in medical bills and other expenses. If you were seriously injured in a crash caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, contact the Phoenix personal injury attorneys at MayesTelles PLLC today by giving us a call at (602) 428-7104 or by filling our online form to request a free case consultation.