Wrong Way Driver Accidents Has Become an Epidemic in Arizona

Just recently Two Tempe officers were involved in a wrong-way crash on State Route 51 in Phoenix early Monday morning on November 10th as a result of a wrong way driver. On September 30th another 4 people were injured in a wrong way accident near interstate 17. Wrong way accidents has become a crisis in Arizona and seriously needs addressing. wrong way driver accident arizona, wrong way driver accident az, wrong way driver accident

The last wrong-way collision that resulted in a fatality was on August 2nd near Loop 101 by Union Hills Drive that killed a Goodyear woman, bringing this year’s wrong-way driver fatalities total to 16, according to Alberto Gutier, director of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Arizona has reached the same number of wrong-way driver fatalities so far in 2019 as it did for the entire year of 2018 in July. 101 wrong way driver accident, 101 wrong way driver accidents, i17 wrong way driver accident, i17 wrong way driver accidents, car accident wrong way driver, wrong way driver accidents

The latest victim was 20-year-old Laiquan Lemon of Goodyear, who was killed late Tuesday when her car collided with a wrong-way vehicle on Loop 101 near Union Hills Drive, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said.

In March, a wrong-way driver collision on Interstate 10 east of Quartzsite left four dead.

In early June, a wrong-way collision on Interstate 10 near Casa Grande left one dead, and then two more people died June 15 after a wrong-way driver crashed into a church van on Interstate 40 near Holbrook.

There have been 1,088 wrong-way driver incidents so far in 2019, which is almost 100 more than the same time period last year, according to Gutier. Many of those were averted before a collision occurred, but as of Thursday, there have been 35wrong-way driver collisions and 71 DUI arrests statewide involving wrong-way drivers, he added.

This week, three wrong-way driving incidents occurred.

In addition to the one involving Lemon, a woman was arrested Monday on suspicion of being impaired after driving south in the northbound lanes on Loop 101 near Camelback Road. On Wednesday, a woman believed to be impaired collided head-on with a commercial vehicle on Interstate 10 in Casa Grande.

Another wrong-way driver crashed into an Arizona Department of Public Safety patrol vehicle Thursday afternoon on Interstate 10 near Ray Road. Impairment was believed to be a factor. The DPS trooper deliberately drove in front the vehicle to stop the driver.

“We don’t know what could be causing the spike but as the statistics show, impairment is a strong factor in these wrong-way incidents,” wrote DPS spokesperson Bart Graves in an email. “Driving under the influence is a community-wide problem. There are many people that know someone who repeatedly drives impaired. They need to take the keys away, call a shared ride service, call a cab, find a designated driver. Its all about awareness.”

Graves said DPS troopers are willing to block vehicles driving in the wrong direction with their own patrol cars in order to prevent collisions with unsuspecting drivers.

Doug Nintzel, an ADOT spokesman, said the agency also has taken steps to reduce the risk of wrong-way crashes on Arizona highways.

The agency has installed hundreds of large “Wrong Way” and “Do Not Enter” signs at freeway interchanges and large “right way” arrows — outlined with reflectors that glow red when a wrong-way vehicle is traveling toward them — on off-ramps, according to Nintzel.

The agency also implemented highway lane-line reflectors that glow white toward drivers who are traveling the right way and glow red when a vehicle is traveling the wrong-way, he added.

Additionally, Nintzel said, ADOT is evaluating the performance of its wrong-way vehicle detection and warning system. He explained that 90 thermal cameras, installed at off-ramps along the Interstate 17 between Loop 101 and Interstate 10, have detected more than 70 wrong-way vehicles — most at freeway off-ramps — since last January.

“Time is a key factor in reducing the risk of wrong-way crashes. The system has significantly reduced the important response time of AZDPS troopers alerted to a potential wrong-way driver, compared to waiting for 911 calls from other drivers,” Nintzel said.

“Our evaluation of the I-17 wrong-way alert project, due for completion by this fall, will help guide decisions on what components of the system might be installed elsewhere on the freeway system. “car accidents wrong way driver, wrong way driver accident today, 101 accident wrong way driver, 101 accidents wrong way driver

If you or someone you know is involved in a wrong way accident please don’t hesitate to call us (602) 495-1005! An experienced Phoenix, AZ Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers at AZ Hometown Lawyers can assist you! In the State of Arizona, there is a period of time in which you may file a lawsuit or you will be unable to seek compensation. It is urgent that you contact a Phoenix personal injury law firm as soon as possible.fatal car accident i 10 wrong way driver, fatal car accident i 17 wrong way driver, wrong way driver killed fatal accident

Credit: AZ Central

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