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Pregnant Phoenix woman dies in head-on crash with alleged DUI driver

Karen Garcia-Rodriquez is from Phoenix and worked as a nurse during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PHOENIX — A pregnant woman died in a head-on crash with an alleged DUI driver in Yavapai County over the weekend.

The crash happened Sunday night along Highway 93 near Congress. DPS says a Jeep Liberty SUV was heading south and slammed into a Honda Civic that was heading north.

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Karen Garcia-Rodriquez, 32, was the driver of the Honda. Troopers say she was pregnant and both she and her unborn child died in the crash.

The driver of the Jeep, only identified as a man, was showing signs of impairment, according to DPS.

He is being treated at a Phoenix hospital.

Garcia-Rodriquez is from Phoenix and worked as a nurse during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

She was also a DACA recipient who advocated for immigrant rights when the Trump administration threatened to revoke protections for undocumented people who were brought into the U.S. as children.

Her story with 12 News: Valley nurse, DACA recipient in the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 worries about her legal status

She spoke to 12 News in 2020 about multiple issues.

The Yavapai County Attorney's Office will handle any criminal charges for the driver of the Jeep.

The family set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses.

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Enfermera embarazada de Phoenix muere en choque frontal causado por conductor que mostraba señas de intoxicación, según autoridades

Credit: Karen Garcia

RELATED: Arizona ranks among top 10 states with the most irresponsible drivers, study says

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Driving Safety Tips:

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) offers driving tips 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

Find more tips on the department's Driving Safety Homepage on ADOT's website here.

"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.

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