A 43-year-old motorcyclist was killed Wednesday evening after a collision with a car in south Phoenix, turning a busy commute into a fatal scene at a major intersection.
The rider, identified as Jason David Irons‑Raiter, was found by first responders with serious injuries near 27th Avenue and Southern Avenue shortly after 5:30 p.m. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Police said the crash remains under investigation.
Phoenix police detectives told Arizona's Family they believe the driver involved was heading east on Southern Avenue and turned left without yielding, striking Irons‑Raiter. According to police, the driver stayed at the scene and "showed no signs of impairment," the station reported. The report, published April 9, includes reporting from Brian Petersheim Jr.
Statewide motorcycle crash trends
Motorcycle crashes continue to be a serious safety issue across Arizona. ADOT's 2024 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts lists 3,036 motorcycle crashes statewide in 2024, with 219 motorcyclists killed that year, and identifies the 4–5 p.m. hour as a peak time for motorcycle crashes. Those statewide numbers line up grimly with the timing of Wednesday's collision and highlight how risky evening commutes can be for riders.
Why intersections are dangerous
National research has long shown that intersections are particularly perilous for motorcyclists. A Federal Highway Administration review of intersection studies notes that many multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes occur when another vehicle turns left into a rider's path. Those left-turn scenarios are flagged as a frequent pre-crash configuration and a common source of severe injuries.
What the city is doing
The City of Phoenix says its Street Transportation Department is developing a Road Safety Action Plan that incorporates Vision Zero goals and will identify a High Injury Network to target safety investments. According to the city, the plan is meant to guide engineering, enforcement and education efforts in neighborhoods that see the most serious crashes. More details are outlined on the city's Road Safety Action Plan page.
Before any formal findings are released in this case, police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has video of it to contact Phoenix investigators. This story will be updated as authorities release more information; see Arizona's Family for the original report.
