Morning commuters on eastbound Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix hit a wall of brake lights Friday after a fiery crash shut down multiple lanes and turned the freeway into a slow-moving parking lot. Crews tackled a vehicle fire and cleared wreckage while traffic stacked up for miles, with backups stretching toward the Deck Park Tunnel and the I-17 interchange.
Where it happened
According to KTAR News, firefighters converged on eastbound I-10 near Seventh Street after the collision. The outlet reported that lanes in the area were blocked as first responders secured the scene and worked around the burning vehicle.
Officials and response
Arizona's Family reported that crews were called out around 7:15 a.m. to the crash on eastbound I-10 near 16th Street. According to the station, Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers shut down the leftmost lanes while investigators and cleanup teams moved debris out of the roadway. It was still unclear whether anyone was injured, and officials said the cause of the crash remained under investigation.
Traffic map shows long backups
An Arizona Department of Transportation traffic map showed delays stretching past the Deck Park Tunnel all the way to the I-17 split, pushing the morning backup deeper into the Valley than usual. Drivers were advised to brace for lingering delays even after lanes began to reopen, as the crash scene and fire response continued to clear. ADOT’s online tools carry real-time traffic updates and camera views for the corridor.
Why this stretch matters
The run between the Deck Park Tunnel and the I-17 Stack is a notorious pinch point during rush hour, and regional planners have examined ways to cut down on crashes and smooth out traffic flow, according to the Maricopa Association of Governments I-10 Freeway Corridor Study. At the same time, ADOT’s routine tunnel inspections and scheduled weekend work can add another wrinkle to traffic recovery when a crash hits that stretch, as ABC15 has reported.
Investigators remained on scene as of the initial reports, and authorities urged drivers to steer clear of the area or build in extra time to get through, according to KTAR News. Local outlets, along with ADOT’s travel map, are expected to provide updates as agencies release more details.
