PHOENIX — Three people are dead after a car crash involving numerous vehicles late Thursday night, the Phoenix Police Department said.
Officers were called to the scene around 11:20 p.m. to the scene on 19th Avenue just north of the 101, where they found three vehicles involved in a crash, the department said. An investigation found two cars were involved in a head-on collision that hit a third car.
Abelino Diaz, 18, was driving one of the vehicles and 38-year-old Octaviano Giron was riding as a passenger. Neither of them survived the crash.
The driver of another vehicle also died after their car caught fire. The identity of the third person has not been released.
The driver and passenger in the third vehicle were not injured.
Police said the car driven by Diaz was allegedly traveling south in the northbound lanes of 19th Avenue when it struck the second vehicle, which was driving north on 19th Avenue.
This is a developing story. Tune in to 12News for the latest information.
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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.