CASA GRANDE, Ariz. — A 9-month-old infant, a 3-year-old girl, and their great-grandfather are dead after a crash on Interstate 10 near Casa Grande Wednesday morning, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) said.
DPS troopers also said that another infant, a 5-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl and a woman were taken to a Valley hospital after the crash.
The vehicle, a pickup truck with South Carolina license plates, was traveling westbound on I-10 when it went into the median for an unknown reason, troopers said. The driver reportedly over-corrected, causing the vehicle to roll.
DPS has identified the deceased as 74-year-old John Henry White and his two great-grandchildren.
The wounded victims included the mother of the two children and the 9-month-old twin brother of the deceased infant. DPS said the family was traveling to the West Valley.
A DPS spokesperson said apparently "no one in the vehicle was wearing seat belts."
The crash previously caused the partial closure of the I-10 westbound lanes near State Route 387, the Arizona Department of Transportation said.
Officials haven't released the following information:
- Whether speed and/or impairment were involved in the crash
This is a developing story. Tune in to 12News for the latest information.
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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.