It was a rough week on the Arizona highways. Tucson saw a multi-vehicle accident on I-10 this week that ended three lives, including a 12-year-old girl. The accident occurred Tuesday morning on westbound I-10 near Prince and Ruthrauff roads. The tragedy closed parts of I-10 for hours as first responders worked to help the injured and clear the accident.

Investigators say that a westbound semi-truck hit one vehicle, causing a chain reaction. Investigators don’t know what caused the initial collision.

Crashes on I-40 in Northern Arizona

Two semi-trucks and a van were involved in a multi-car pileup on I-40 in northern Arizona, west of Flagstaff. One person died, and several were injured. The cleanup closed the highway for several hours. Smoke from a controlled burn in the area almost certainly played a role in the collision. Thick, dark smoke had significantly reduced visibility in the area Wednesday morning.

An ADOT spokesperson stated that four overhead electronic signs on I-40 had warned drivers of possible smoke in the area. An ADOT employee noted that smoke was obscuring one of the electronic warning signs and more signs were activated.

Highway truck accidents can be catastrophic, as evidenced by the fatalities that happened this week. Arizona roadways are crowded with massive, semi-trucks that are not highly regulated by the state.

Don’t Be A Selfish Driver

ADOT’s message to drivers this week? Curb your selfish driving habits. Slow down, don’t drive aggressive, don’t drive distracted, wear a seatbelt.

As of Sept. 30 this year, 690 people had died in crashes in Arizona.

According to ADOT, Arizona could exceed 900 traffic fatalities this year. ADOT blames bad decisions by drivers.

Drive safely on the Arizona highways, especially on I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix. If you’re involved in an Arizona highway accident, call us for a free case consultation.