Accidents on Sunday on I-17 near Northern Avenue leave one dead and two critically injured

INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA

Early Sunday morning, Arizona state troopers were investigating a drunken driving case on northbound Interstate 17 near Northern Avenue when two crashes occurred nearby that left one person dead and two hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

At around 1 a.m. on July 7, Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers checked a driver who may have been driving under the influence of alcohol. While they attempted to remove the vehicle from the road and investigate, the highway backed up and a two-vehicle collision occurred, with no injuries, according to a DPS news release.

While police officers attempted to remove the vehicles from the road, another vehicle traveling at high speed collided with the vehicles, killing one of the drivers.

The driver who crashed into the vehicles suffered life-threatening injuries and is currently being evaluated for possible impairment, authorities said.

The juvenile driver of the third vehicle also suffered life-threatening injuries, DPS officials said in the press release.

According to the press release, DPS investigators are working with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to determine what criminal charges may be appropriate.

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