Whether wrong-way crashes happen because someone is either confused or impaired, according to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), there has been more than 1,000 wrong-way crashes so far this year. Equipment such as safety cameras alarm stems and stop strips have greatly assisted by helping law enforcement officers to stop and apprehend wrong-way drivers quickly. These tools can also help prevent crashes from occurring on our roadways.
ABC 15 in Phoenix reports that the Department of Public Safety Troopers was able to stop a wrong-way driver in the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 2nd after she entered Interstate 17 near Yorkshire.
Authorities say that at approximately 2:30 a.m., a female motorist was observed driving her Jeep southbound in the northbound lanes and traveling at the posted speed limit. Eyewitnesses called 911 to report the wrong-way driver. Troopers located the motorist driver near Northern Avenue. They were able to use vehicle intervention to stop the motorist. A patrol cruiser was damaged in the incident.
DPS has released the identity of the driver as being 49-year-old Abril E. Marquez. DPS officers arrested Marquez on suspicion of alcohol impairment. No other injuries were reported in connection to the incident.
No further information was available regarding the incident.
