PHOENIX — Three people are dead after a major crash happened along the I-17 in Phoenix Thursday afternoon.
The crash happened on the southbound lanes of the highway near Dunlap Avenue around 6 p.m. The entire highway was closed for a time, but crews reopened northbound traffic shortly after the crash and southbound lanes were opened about three hours later.
Five people were involved in the collision, according to the Phoenix Fire Department. Three of the victims died at the scene while the other two were rushed to a local hospital in serious condition.
The victims who died in the crash were identified by the Department of Public Safety Friday as Jonathan Vazquez-Garcia, 27, of Tolleson, Miguel Loya-Sanchez, 18, of Buckeye, and Christian Chavez-Ponce, 24, of Phoenix.
DPS says a truck towing a trailer stopped in the HOV lane to make repairs, and the five people in the truck got out and stood nearby.
Troopers say a car traveling in the HOV lane collided into the parked trailer and four of the passengers.
The driver of the car was one of the people rushed to the hospital.
DPS is handling the investigation.
