Tragedy struck on Interstate 40 near Williams, Arizona, when two individuals lost their lives in a devastating pile-up involving 22 vehicles during a snowstorm. Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) identified the victims as Juan Beltran Sanchez of Chino Valley and Evelyn Davis of Ganado, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. The collision occurred last Thursday, just before 3:30 p.m. near milepost 159, when drivers attempted to navigate around a jackknifed commercial vehicle, leading to another commercial vehicle jackknifing and setting off a chain reaction crash.
The multi-vehicle incident, including 13 passenger cars, five commercial vehicles, and five unattached trailers, resulted in 16 people being transported for medical treatment, says DPS, furthermore, the second jackknifed tractor-trailer created a situation where several vehicles were pushed into or underneath the commercial trucks. According to a 12 News report, the crash spawned a fire that raged for more than 12 hours, prompting emergency response challenges due to severe weather and traffic congestion, and ultimately all involved vehicles were destroyed by the prolonged blaze.
The inclement weather, with roadways blanketed in snow and ice, has been identified as a critical factor in the crash, with DPS emphasizing the difficulty for responders to reach the scene because of the treacherous conditions. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is currently assessing the infrastructural damage caused by the fire, a measure described as part of ongoing evaluations after the accident by FOX 10 Phoenix. The investigation into the crash remains active, with DPS suggesting a protracted timeline given the number of vehicles, people involved, and the scale of fire damage.
Following the incident, DPS and ADOT have reiterated calls for extreme caution during winter weather conditions, and for motorists to delay travel or prepare adequately if driving is unavoidable; such advice is not without weight, as the Arizona Department of Public Safety posted, "Motorists are reminded to delay travel during storms, if you must drive, do so with extreme caution, prep your vehicle & expect delays." To assist those on the roads, the state agencies also provide road condition updates and travel tips through services such as AZ511.gov and the AZ511 app, as reported by 12 News report.
