A 76-year-old woman was killed Thursday night when a speeding SUV slammed into a line of cars stopped behind a city bus near 19th Avenue and Evans Drive in Phoenix, triggering a five-vehicle pileup. Police say the 18-year-old driver tried to run from the scene before witnesses detained him, and later kicked an officer in the face while receiving medical treatment.
The crash happened around 9:10 p.m. Thursday as several vehicles waited in traffic behind a bus letting off passengers, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. Police said a gray Volvo SUV driven by Jeffrey Daniel White was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck the rear of a white Dodge Ram pickup, setting off a chain-reaction crash that ultimately involved five vehicles. One report, from KTAR News 92.3 FM, described the collision as sending at least one car off the roadway and into a small brick pony wall.
Frances Homer, 76, was among those caught in the impact. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. The station's report identified the three other drivers involved as a 33-year-old man, a 45-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, all of whom were uninjured and stayed at the scene.
Driver Allegedly Tried to Flee Before Being Held by Bystanders
Police said White attempted to run from the crash site but was detained by witnesses until officers arrived. He was later taken to a hospital himself with non-life-threatening injuries, per the same account. While there, a Drug Recognition Expert assigned to the Vehicular Crimes unit evaluated White and observed signs of impairment, according to the report.
Officers say the situation escalated further during that hospital visit. Police allege White kicked an officer in the face while being treated, and he was subsequently arrested and booked on an aggravated assault charge. Under Arizona law, a conviction for aggravated assault on a peace officer can carry an additional two years beyond the sentence otherwise imposed for the underlying offense, according to the Arizona Legislature's statute on the crime. Phoenix police said the investigation remains ongoing and that White could face additional allegations.
Spelling Discrepancy, Unresolved Questions Remain
Police records cited by two outlets differ slightly on the suspect's name: FOX 10 Phoenix reported it as Jeffrey Daniel White, while azfamily.com listed him as Jeffery White. Neither report has detailed what substance, if any, investigators suspect was involved, nor has either outlined what additional charges he might ultimately face for Homer's death.
The north Phoenix crash came just one day after another serious wreck on the city's south side. On Wednesday morning, azfamily.com reported that a driver in a white Jeep Patriot allegedly ran a red light on Baseline Road and struck a white Buick sedan near 46th Street before barreling into a bus stop, hospitalizing five people, including a teen and a young child. One woman was trapped underneath the SUV and had to be rescued, though she was expected to survive her injuries. In that earlier crash, police said neither impairment nor speed was believed to be a factor.
Broader Trend in Arizona Traffic Deaths
Statewide, traffic fatalities and crashes declined for a third consecutive year in 2025, according to crash data from the Arizona Department of Transportation. The agency's figures show speeding was a factor in 367 fatalities statewide, while alcohol impairment contributed to 334 others. Those numbers offer some context for Thursday's crash, though investigators have not released specific findings tying Homer's death to either factor beyond the observed signs of impairment reported at the scene.
