1 killed in wreck during officers’ pursuit of suspect

A driver was killed in a collision with a wrong-way vehicle driven by a domestic-violence suspect who’d been chased by police through several communities in east-central Arizona before officers ended their pursuit, authorities said Tuesday.

Police officers chased an 18-year-old domestic violence assault suspect before breaking off the pursuit about seven miles from where the crash occurred Monday night on U.S. 60 about 40 miles (72.4 kilometers) east of Phoenix, the state Department of Public Safety said.

Preliminary information from the investigation indicated that the suspect’s westbound vehicle collided with two others in eastbound traffic lanes, Trooper Kameron Lee said. A woman driving a second vehicle was killed, her male passenger was injured and a third driver refused medical treatment, Lee said.

Identities and details of the suspect’s injuries were not released.

The injured suspect faces charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal damage stemming from the crash, Lee said.

The crash resulted in a 10-hour closure of eastbound U.S. 60 at the junction with State Route 79.

The incident began when Globe police tried to contact the suspect after his girlfriend reported being assaulted early Monday evening, Lee said.