A driver was killed after causing a wrong-way collision with a semitruck on Interstate 10 near Quartzsite Wednesday afternoon, the Department of Public Safety said. DPS troopers were pursuing the man on eastbound I-10 because the vehicle he was driving was suspected of being involved in a homicide investigation out of Los Angeles, DPS spokesman Bart Graves said.
DPS troopers attempted to stop the driver around 2:30 p.m. on I-10 near the California state line, Graves said. The driver fled at a “high rate of speed” and crossed the median, traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes before colliding with a semitruck, Graves said. The driver who was being pursued was pronounced dead on scene just before 3:45 p.m.
REMINDER: I-10 westbound remains blocked at milepost 44 near Quartzsite due to a police incident. Traffic is exiting at Vicksburg Road. Motorists can then take US 60 WB and re-enter I-10 WB at milepost 31. pic.twitter.com/Dy7BBvO77K
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) February 14, 2018
The driver of the semitruck was treated for non life-threatening injuries at a local hospital. Details of the homicide case were not immediately available. The westbound lanes of I-10 remained closed near Quartzsite Wednesday evening, the Arizona Department of Transportation said.
WB I-10 closed at MP40 west of Phoenix after pursuit ends in head-on semi crash. pic.twitter.com/J1BpBdHH3C
— Jerry Ferguson (@geraldferguson) February 15, 2018
Motorists were exiting the interstate at Vicksburg Road and taking US 60 to re-enter the westbound interstate at milepost 31, ADOT said. Officials did not provide an estimated time to reopen the roadway.