A deadly chain of events on a busy stretch of U.S. 60 in Mesa left a woman dead Wednesday morning after she rear ended a semi, got out of her car, and ran into traffic, according to state troopers.
The crash happened near the Higley Road interchange, where investigators say a passenger car struck the back of a semi around 9 a.m. The woman driving the car then exited her vehicle and ran into live lanes, where she was hit by another vehicle and later pronounced dead. The driver of that second car stayed at the scene while the Arizona Department of Public Safety worked to manage traffic and clear the freeway.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the initial impact with the semi occurred near the Higley Road ramps, and the second collision followed shortly afterward when the woman entered moving traffic, as reported by ABC15. Troopers said they still have limited information on what led up to the first crash.
DPS also noted there had been an earlier, separate crash on U.S. 60 near Greenfield Road that crowded the corridor during the morning commute. Officials said it is not clear whether that earlier wreck had any connection to the fatal incident near Higley.
US 60 safety record
US 60, known as the Superstition Freeway through the East Valley, is one of the region's heaviest traveled commuter routes and has been under the microscope for safety fixes. A 2025 corridor study from the Arizona Department of Transportation points to crash patterns along SR 260 and US 60 and recommends intersection upgrades and lane management strategies aimed at cutting down on serious collisions. The fatal wreck near Higley is a stark reminder of how quickly trouble on this freeway can snowball.
Mesa's safety push
Mesa officials have been rolling out targeted street safety upgrades at high risk intersections, including areas around Higley Road, as part of a broader campaign to reduce crashes. The city recently landed a federal grant to support those efforts, including changes to signal timing and crosswalk design at crash prone locations, through a federal grant for safe streets initiative.
Troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety are still investigating Wednesday's collision. Drivers are being told to expect delays in the area and to steer clear of that stretch of U.S. 60 when possible until all lanes are fully reopened. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Arizona Department of Public Safety, which is leading the investigation.
