MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — A motorist has died and three others were taken to the hospital for injuries following a multi-vehicle crash west of Buckeye, officials said.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said multiple vehicles were involved in a collision on Friday near Old U.S. 80 and Salome Highway, which is in a remote part of western Maricopa County.
At least two vehicles sustained extensive damage, suggesting that a head-on crash may have occurred.
Three people in one of the cars were taken to the hospital and are expected to survive. The driver of the other car did not survive the crash.
No signs of impairment have been detected at this point in the investigation, MCSO said.
MCSO said traffic in this area may be restricted as detectives investigate the crash.
Up to Speed
What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.
