State Route 347 turned into a miles-long headache for drivers Tuesday after a pedestrian was struck and killed near milepost 187 in Sacaton, shutting down the main corridor between Maricopa and metro Phoenix for hours and pushing traffic onto already stressed side routes.
What Happened
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said a pedestrian was hit and killed near milepost 187 in Sacaton, according to a statement reported by KTAR News. As of the initial report, authorities had not released the victim's name, and investigators remained on scene Tuesday while troopers and emergency crews managed the closure.
Road Closures And Detours
The crash shut down SR 347 in both directions north of Riggs Road, cutting off a key link for Maricopa commuters. According to the DPS update relayed through KTAR, northbound traffic was being held at Riggs Road, while southbound drivers were stopped at Interstate 10. Motorists were urged to find alternate routes while detectives worked the scene and crews cleared the roadway.
The closure hit at a time when the Arizona Department of Transportation is already running lane restrictions on the corridor for an ongoing improvement project. Drivers are being urged to keep a close eye on live conditions through AZ511, as overnight paving and widening work between Interstate 10 and the City of Maricopa can complicate detours and slow emergency responses even on a good day.
Why This Stretch Keeps Making News
This is not the first time drivers on this stretch of SR 347 have found themselves parked instead of moving. Earlier this year, a multi-vehicle crash near Riggs Road triggered another long shutdown on the same corridor, highlighted in coverage by InMaricopa. City and tribal leaders have been pressing for ADOT's widening and new interchange work, which the agency says is aimed squarely at improving safety and easing congestion on the busy route.
No additional details about the pedestrian were available at publication time, and officials are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact law enforcement. Drivers heading between Maricopa and the Phoenix metro area are urged to check AZ511 or ADOT traffic alerts for the latest updates and to expect delays while the investigation continues.
