A pre-dawn crash in Tempe shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday left a 12-year-old passenger injured and led to the driver’s arrest on suspicion of DUI, according to police. The single-vehicle wreck happened near Scottsdale Road and Rio Salado Parkway and left the SUV heavily damaged. First responders found two people inside and called for medical aid.
Tempe officers said they believed the woman behind the wheel was impaired and took her into custody at the scene. The child was taken to a hospital with injuries Tempe police described as non-life-threatening. Westbound lanes of Rio Salado were shut down for roughly three hours before reopening. These details were reported by Arizona's Family.
Potential charges under Arizona law
Under Arizona law, a DUI can be charged as an aggravated offense when certain conditions apply, including having a passenger younger than 15 in the vehicle. The state statute, A.R.S. §28-1383, sets out what qualifies as aggravated DUI and the penalties that can follow. Prosecutors will review the case once the investigation is complete and decide what formal charges, if any, to file.
Investigation ongoing
Investigators say the cause of the wreck is still under review. They have not confirmed whether the woman and the child are related and have not released the driver’s identity. The Tempe Police Department has not provided additional public updates, according to Arizona's Family. The investigation remains active, and authorities say more information may be released as it develops.
Why this matters
Impaired-driving crashes remain a major factor in roadway deaths across Arizona. ADOT’s 2024 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report shows alcohol-related collisions accounted for roughly 28% of traffic fatalities statewide in 2024. Maricopa County, which includes Tempe, consistently records a significant share of those alcohol-involved deaths, and state and local agencies regularly step up impaired-driving enforcement during late-night and early-morning hours. Thursday’s Tempe crash highlights the kinds of risks officers and first responders say they see far too often before sunrise.
