A fiery crash in west Phoenix has left two hospitalized after an early morning collision between a sedan and a fuel tanker. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. near the 51st Avenue exit off Interstate 10 when the sedan allegedly ran a red light and struck the turning tanker, which thankfully was empty, sources confirm. The car caught fire upon impact, said Phoenix police.
Witnesses watched in shock as the blaze enveloped the sedan seconds after the crash, the occupants of the vehicle, both managed to escape despite sustaining serious injuries, officials noted they were transported to a local hospital and are expected to pull through the ordeal, said a Phoenix police spokesperson. The driver of the sedan is now potentially facing DUI charges, impairment is considered a contributing factor in the accident that disrupted the quiet of the early morning hours.
The aftermath of the collision caused significant disruption, with authorities projecting closures in the vicinity to persist through the late morning for investigation and cleanup, traffic around the normally bustling area slowed to a crawl as a result. The driver of the fuel tanker walked away from the accident unscathed, the immediate threat of danger dissolving as quickly as it appeared, according to police reports.
Further inquiries are still underway, and the full extent of the repercussions for the sedan's driver are yet unfolding with law enforcement examining the particulars of the incident which highlighted once again, the potential dangers of impaired driving and the thin line between a narrow escape and tragedy, according to a statement obtained by 12 News.
