On March 9th, Interstate 10 near the U.S 60 in the Phoenix area experienced a total lane shut down due to a deadly wrong-way car accident that left one person dead. According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the car accident occurred when the Jeep Renegade traveling eastbound in westbound lanes of I-10 crashed into a semi-truck. The driver traveling the wrong way was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and passenger of the commercial vehicle didn’t experience serious injuries. The accident occurred around 3:20 am, and police are unsure where the Jeep Renegade driver entered I-10 incorrectly. Arizona Department of Public Safety noted that most wrong-way car accidents happen in the early morning hours.

Some tips to avoid these types of car accidents:

Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Try to drive in the middle to right lanes as the wrong-way driver will be traveling in the left lanes.
Report any drivers traveling the wrong way.

Wrong-way car accidents are, unfortunately, nothing new in Arizona. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, they have taken extensive steps to reduce the number of wrong-way car accidents on highways and roads. They have added new thermal camera detection systems on I-17 to test the accuracy and then be implemented on other highways. For “Wrong Way” and “Do Not Enter” signs, they have enlarged them, lowered them in more direct eye space, and added lights to make them more noticeable in the dark. Both of these types of signs line highways and state roadways. Drunk drivers cause 2 out of 3 wrong-way car accidents, and more often than not, these drivers have over twice the legal limit for blood-alcohol levels.

If you find yourself hit by a driver traveling the wrong way on the road, it is essential to contact an Arizona car accident lawyer. They will get you total compensation for all of your injuries and damages. You shouldn’t have to experience this hardship alone!