A fatal car crash claimed the life of a woman, and left a young child hospitalized following an incident near Interstate 10 in Phoenix. The crash, which occurred late Tuesday night at approximately 9:45 p.m., involved two vehicles at the overpass near 51st Avenue, according to ABC15.
The Phoenix police stated that Dre Lewis, a 22-year-old driver, ran a red light while heading north on 51st Avenue, colliding with a second vehicle. A woman, Debbie Alvarez, 38, succumbed to her injuries, while a child from the vehicle Lewis struck was seriously injured, and thrown from the car. Besides the casualties, two others suffered various injuries in the collision, the police detailed.
Following the incident, Lewis was transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries but was later released and booked into jail on multiple charges, including manslaughter and extreme DUI. Reports from AZ Family indicate that his blood alcohol content was over 0.20, significantly higher than the legal limit.
The ongoing investigation by officials has yet to conclude, but the initial assessment suggests that alcohol impairment, and disregard for traffic signals were contributing factors in the tragic event. The child, as of the latest reports, remains in the hospital battling injuries from the dreadful crash, with the community reeling from the sudden loss of life, and the stark reminder of the perils of impaired driving.
