On September 2nd, a high-speed car chase culminated in a crash that not only sent two people to the hospital but also caused substantial damage to an apartment building at the intersection of Baseline and Miller Roads. The driver, 37-year-old Keith Eric Auzenne, Jr., reportedly coerced his girlfriend into the backseat of the vehicle following an escalated argument. According to court documents detailed by FOX 10 Phoenix, Auzenne reached speeds of up to 100 miles per hour during the incident. It was later reported that the vehicle, in its wild trajectory, leaped into the air and crashed into the outdoor seating area of an apartment complex after barreling through a landscaped zone.
Further details indicate that Auzenne considered a suicidal act that could have ended both his and his girlfriend's life at an intersection. Instead, the car was swerved at the last moment, driving off the roadway. While treated at the hospital, Auzenne admitted to having smoked meth before the crash, and as derived from court records, he faces numerous misdemeanor and felony charges—including aggravated assault, endangering kidnapping, and drug-related offenses. FOX 10 Phoenix also highlighted the severe destruction of the apartment belonging to Vanessa Fernandez, where her three young daughters were making sandwiches as the crash occurred, bringing the vehicle nearly into their living space. During the confusion, injured by broken glass, Fernandez scrambled to ensure the safety of her girls.
"I thought maybe my cupboards or something had fallen," Vanessa Fernandez told Head Topics. The mother explained her fear as she ran across the shattered glass barefoot, seizing her daughters from the dangerous kitchen filled with potential hazards and sharp objects. She expressed her relief and gratitude that her children were unharmed, considering the potential grave outcome.
The aftermath of the incident remained palpable with the homes being declared unsafe for re-entry by the fire department, due to the extent of the damages incurred. Presently, as a result of the Red Cross stepping in to provide temporary accommodations, Fernandez and her children wait in a hotel until they can secure another home.
