A motorcycle and a car collided violently at high speed on a calm Sunday morning along a busy west Phoenix stretch of Interstate 10. The result was one person dead. The collision, which happened near the 39th Avenue bridge, shocked the neighborhood and sparked new discussions about the risks involved in excessive speed, irresponsible driving and drunk driving. The fatal incident was confirmed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). As a result, the eastbound lanes of the highway were closed for many hours while investigators gathered evidence and pieced together the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.
The tragedy occurred on September 24, 2024, around 10:30 a.m., as many Phoenix residents were going about their weekend activities and were unaware that a horrific event was taking place on the city's main thoroughfare. DPS troopers say a motorcyclist was involved in a crash in the eastbound lanes of I-10 with a car driver who was allegedly going an incredible 140 miles per hour. The crash had a devastating effect. The rider was thrown from the motorcycle and suffered potentially fatal injuries; Their identities have not yet been released to the public pending notification of their relatives.
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene almost immediately. When paramedics finally arrived, they took the injured biker to a nearby hospital, where medical professionals did their best to keep her alive. Unfortunately, not long after arriving at the hospital, the rider was pronounced dead despite his efforts. The rider's passing represents another highway fatality in Arizona, where there have been more tragic crashes of late, especially those involving high speeds and drunken drivers.
The driver of the car involved in the collision was not immediately arrested. Instead, the vehicle continued for another mile before stopping. Official accounts state that not long after the car stopped, it burst into flames. Although the cause of the fire is unknown, firefighters put it out fairly quickly. Fortunately, the driver was able to get out of the car before it completely went up, and they were spared serious burns. Nevertheless, DPS officers apprehended the driver at the scene, and preliminary investigations indicate that impairment may have played a role in the collision.
