Tragedy struck on Grand Avenue in west Phoenix when two people died in a collision early Tuesday morning. According to AZFamily, 28-year-old Aaron Soto, while speeding, drove into the back of a semi-truck as it was turning on 33rd Avenue at around 7:00 a.m. The impact resulted in the deaths of both Soto and his passenger, 28-year-old Angel Loera, at the scene.
Swarming with police activity for hours, the area of the crash was closed off, not reopening until approximately 2:30 p.m. The driver of the semi-truck, having sustained minor injuries, was hospitalized and showed no signs of impairment, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
"He was just full of life. He was a great father of two," said Samantha Cuevas, Angel Loera's aunt, expressing her devastation in an interview obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Robert Romero, a resident of the neighborhood, expressed his heartbreak upon witnessing the scene, touching upon the collision's unfortunate timing during the holiday season—a period often reserved for joy and familial gatherings. Romero reflected on the broader impact of such events on the community in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. "It just breaks my heart to see this happen, especially at this time of year, when people are out shopping, visiting family, and something like this happens. It’s really sad," he said.
As the families of the deceased brace for a holiday season shadowed by grief, they request the community's support. "Just keep us in your prayers," implored Cuevas to FOX 10 Phoenix. "We are really going to need it. This really hit close to home. We don’t even know where to start or what to think, but just pray for us because we are really going to need it." The investigation into the fatal crash is ongoing, with further details yet to emerge.
