Authorities say a wrong way driver is in critical condition following a head on collision with a tractor trailer rig on Interstate 10 early Thursday morning. The Arizona Department of transportation has fielded more than 300 calls about wrong-way drivers in 2016.
The accident occurred near Eloy, about halfway between Phoenix and Tucson. Eastbound I-10 was closed for five hours, leading to a major back up as DPS investigated.
An agency spokesperson said impairment is suspected as a factor in the accident.
DPS fields hundreds of wrong way calls statewide. This year alone, there have been four collisions that resulted in injury or death. In 2015, that number was 17, but the agency received more than 1,000 calls about wrong-way drivers on the state’s roadways.
