SURPRISE, Ariz. — A mom and her 4-month-old little boy are both fighting for their lives after a wrong-way collision Wednesday night on State Route 303 in Surprise.
A 2-year-old little girl, also in the car, died early Thursday morning.
The Department of Public Safety tells 12News, that a woman in her 80s from Surprise mistook an offramp for an onramp and hit the family's Volkswagon SUV.
That woman died at the scene.
Authorities said this crash was a tough call for first responders who tried to get the family out as quickly as they could.
"That is very difficult for them, it always is when children are involved, life is so precious, and these kids were riding in the back seat when it was struck by a wrong-way driver, this is a tragedy, and this is always difficult for first responders," said Bart Graves with DPS.
The name of the 2-year-old and the elderly woman has not been released at this time.
DPS said the children's mother is in extremely critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
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Driving Safety Tips:
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) offers driving tips to help keep people safe on the road.
"There’s always room for improvement when it comes to road safety," the department said on its website.
ADOT's suggestions include:
Don’t speed or drive aggressively
Never drive while under the influence of substances
Avoid distractions while driving
Wear your seatbelt and make sure all passengers are doing the same
When an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road, move over
Stay extra aware in work zones
Be prepared for weather conditions that make driving dangerous
"Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511, downloading the AZ 511 app and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT," the department said.
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