Two Killed in Wrong-Way Crash on I-17; Investigation Ongoing

PHOENIX, AZ – The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) has identified the two individuals killed in a tragic wrong-way crash early Thursday morning on Interstate 17. The accident occurred around 2 a.m. near Phoenix, leaving both drivers dead and another person critically injured. According to DPS, 23-year-old Maria Delrefugio Vazquez, a resident of Glendale, was driving southbound in the northbound lanes when her vehicle collided head-on with another car.

Vazquez, along with 29-year-old Dayana Viola Aguilar, a passenger in the impacted vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of Aguilar’s vehicle, whose identity has not been released, sustained severe injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital. As of Friday, the driver remains in critical condition.

The wrong-way collision is one of the latest in a series of wrong-way incidents on Arizona highways, highlighting a troubling trend of fatal accidents related to wrong-way driving. DPS continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and is working to determine if impairment or other factors may have played a role in the accident.

Following the crash, sections of I-17 were temporarily closed for several hours as emergency responders and investigators processed the scene. The interstate has since reopened, but officials warn drivers to remain vigilant, especially during late-night hours when wrong-way incidents tend to occur.

Family and friends of the victims are grieving the sudden and tragic loss of their loved ones. This incident underscores the devastating impact of wrong-way driving and raises concerns about road safety and preventative measures to reduce such accidents. Arizona has implemented wrong-way detection systems in various locations statewide in recent years, aiming to curb these fatal incidents.

DPS urges anyone with information about the crash or who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. Officials hope that the ongoing investigation will shed light on the events leading up to the accident and provide some answers for those affected.