A series of tragic incidents left four people dead on Phoenix roads in just a matter of hours, as confirmed by local authorities. The first crash occurred around 5 p.m. at the intersection of 18th Avenue and Hatcher Road where a man lost his life after his truck plunged into a canal, reported AZFamily.com. Antonio Lopez-Cortes, 43, was identified as the deceased, with his vehicle found overturned at the canal's bottom. Tragically, the reasons for his crash remain unclear, with an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Another life was claimed roughly an hour later when a truck struck 37-year-old bicyclist Harlan Slender near 75th Avenue and Hazelwood Street. Despite immediate medical attempts to save him, Slender succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash, Phoenix Police Sgt. Brian Bower said in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. The driver and passengers of the truck remained on the scene to cooperate with law enforcement officials.
Following the second fatal occurrence, the grim tally increased around 7:40 p.m. after a motorcycle accident at 31st Avenue and Camelback Road. The young motorcyclist, Carrigan Jones, just 18, crashed into a light pole, leading to fatal injuries. Jones, who was heading west on Camelback Road, lost control of his motorcycle prior to the collision. Speed is believed to be a contributing factor, as conveyed by Sgt. Bower.
The night's fatal roadway incidents concluded around 10 p.m. on 32nd Street and Windsor Avenue, where a man was hit by two cars in quick succession while in the roadway. Both drivers involved were reported to have stayed at the scene, gave their statements, and exhibited no signs of impairment. The identity of the pedestrian victim has not yet been disclosed, and detectives are still piecing together the circumstances surrounding his presence in the road, according to police.
