A wrong-way crash on State Route 143 in Tempe early Sunday left one person dead and another seriously injured after a head-on collision in the southbound lanes near Broadway Road shortly after 1:15 a.m., according to authorities. The impact shut down nearby collector–distributor ramps as troopers and emergency crews responded to the scene. Officials have not released the names of those involved or said whether the wrong-way driver is among the dead or injured.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety confirmed "there is one fatality and another serious injury as a result of the collision," according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Dispatch notes indicate troopers first received reports of a vehicle heading north in the southbound lanes, followed shortly by calls about the head-on impact.
Where the Crash Happened
Local coverage places the collision in the westbound U.S. 60 collector–distributor lanes where they connect to SR 143, a stretch that runs alongside Interstate 10 and feeds traffic through several ramp transitions that can quickly turn dangerous when a driver enters against the flow. That location was outlined by Arizona's Family.
Traffic and Scene Response
Authorities kept the affected collector–distributor lanes closed while investigators documented the wreckage and cleared the vehicles. The mainline lanes of US 60 and I 10 stayed open and were largely unaffected, according to ABC15. Tempe and state crews worked through the early morning hours to remove debris and speak with potential witnesses.
State Efforts to Spot Wrong-Way Drivers
Arizona has been investing in technology aimed at catching wrong-way drivers before they cause this kind of devastation. Thermal-camera detection systems installed along I 17 in a pilot project are designed to spot vehicles that enter ramps or lanes going the wrong direction and alert authorities. The Arizona Department of Transportation says the I 17 pilot, which uses roughly 90 thermal cameras, has detected dozens of wrong-way vehicles since 2018, giving troopers a chance to intervene early in many cases.
Investigation Continues
Troopers remained on scene as they reconstructed the crash and worked to determine what led up to the wrong-way entry and collision. Investigators have not yet said whether impairment or any other contributing factor is suspected, and they continue to withhold the identities of those involved, FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
