PHOENIX — One person is dead and two others are in the hospital following a car crash in west Phoenix on Sunday morning, police said. The driver of one of the vehicles was arrested on suspicions of impairment.
A spokesperson with the Phoenix Police Department said that the crash happened just before 2 a.m. near 43rd Avenue and McLellan Boulevard.
When officers arrived they found one man seriously injured, and he was later pronounced dead on the scene by the fire department.
Both people in the other vehicle were taken to the hospital. The woman in the passenger seat was hospitalized with critical injuries, while the driver, who police identified as 30-year-old David Leeshawn Johnson, had non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities said that Johnson had been driving south on 43rd Avenue when his car swerved into the northbound lanes and struck the other vehicle head-on.
Johnson was released from the hospital and arrested by Phoenix police on multiple charges including manslaughter. Impairment is believed to be a factor in the crash, authorities say.
Detectives are still investigating the details of the rash, and the woman remains in the hospital.
Police have not released the identity of the deceased victim.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
Deaths on Arizona roads
Data from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows that roadway fatalities have been gradually rising in Arizona over the last decade:
2011: 825 deaths
2012: 821 deaths
2013: 844 deaths
2014: 774 deaths
2015: 895 deaths
2016: 952 deaths
2017: 1,000 deaths
2018: 1,010 deaths
2019: 982 deaths
2020: 1,057 deaths
ADOT offers driving tips on its website 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.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on our 12News YouTube playlist here.