A two-car crash on northbound Interstate 17 just north of Daisy Mountain Drive near Anthem left at least one person ejected and caused serious injuries, authorities say. First responders were called to the scene on Friday, and the crash is blocking the left two lanes of northbound I-17, with officials warning drivers to expect major delays while the investigation continues.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said serious injuries were reported and confirmed that at least one person was ejected in the crash, according to AZ Family, which first reported the incident. DPS has released few other details as the investigation remains active. Separately, ABC15 reported officials describing the collision as a two-vehicle serious-injury crash with ejections at milepost 227, noting the crash remains under investigation.
Lanes Blocked, Drivers Urged to Detour
The Arizona Department of Transportation reported that the crash is blocking the left two lanes of northbound I-17 after Daisy Mountain Drive. Drivers can expect delays in the area as the lanes remain closed, per the same ABC15 account, and motorists heading north out of the Valley were being told to avoid the stretch or plan for significant backups while crews work the scene.
The crash occurred on Interstate 17 north of the Valley, a stretch of highway that has seen a string of serious collisions in recent years. It remains unclear what caused Friday's crash or how many people were hospitalized, as investigators have not released further specifics.
A Stretch of Highway With a Troubled History
This is not the first time a crash near Anthem has snarled traffic and sent people to the hospital. In August 2023, Arizona DPS said a crash near milepost 232 shut down northbound I-17 on a Saturday afternoon before the lanes reopened, according to 12News.
Further south, a crash near I-17 and Jomax Road left one person dead and another hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, according to Arizona DPS, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. DPS said that crash involved two vehicles, including a Jeep that left the roadway, went through a fence and overturned.
Back in February 2021, a multi-vehicle crash on I-17 near Anthem Way sent seven people, including four children, to area hospitals, ABC15 reported at the time. Arizona DPS said that crash involved multiple vehicles and multiple injuries, though the outlet noted the extent of the victims' injuries was not known when that report was published.
No further details have been released about Friday's crash near Daisy Mountain Drive, and the investigation remains ongoing. Drivers in the area are advised to continue expecting delays until authorities clear the scene.
