PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

Police: Driver in Phoenix crash that injured several was intoxicated

Police officials suspect the driver in a Phoenix crash that left multiple people in critical condition Friday night was intoxicated.

The crash happened at 27th Avenue and Indian School Road just before 8:30 p.m.

Phoenix police spokeswoman Sgt. Mercedes Fortune said witnesses saw a black Chevy Cavalier driving south on 27th Avenue at a high rate of speed. The car then lost control and crashed into a minivan stopped at a red light at the intersection.

The impact from the crash caused the minivan to collide with a truck that was also stopped at the light, which then hit a third car, Fortune said.

The driver and two passengers in the minivan were transported to the hospital, as were the male driver and the four passengers in the Chevy Cavalier.

Shooting leaves 1 dead and another wounded in Mesa, authorities say

Police responded to a shooting call at the 1000 block of West Broadway Road, east of South Alma School Road, and found two adults with gunshot wounds, according to Detective Nik Rasheta, a spokesman for Mesa Police Department.

The victims were transported to a local hospital, where one of them later died. Police did not identify the victim.

County sheriff’s deputies seek driver after fatal head-on crash

Maricopa County sheriff’s deputies are looking for the driver of a Toyota Prius who drove away from a fatal head-on collision involving a semitruck and a motorcycle near Tonopah.

Sheriff’s officials say a silver Prius with black wheels was traveling southbound on Wintersburg Road, south of Van Buren Street, about 12:38 p.m. Thursday when it passed a semitruck and trailer also heading southbound.

While passing the semitruck, the Pruis had to move onto the dirt shoulder of the road to avoid colliding head-on with a group of five motorcycles traveling northbound on Wintersburg Road, causing one of the motorcyclists to lose control.

The motorcyclist collided head-on with the semitruck and his motorcycle struck a second motorcyclist.

The motorcyclist who collided with the semitruck was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Prius did not stop and drove away from the crash scene. The Prius has a placard with writing on the rear doors, and it is not expected to have any damage.

Anyone with information about the Prius or the crash can contact the Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Office at 602-876TIPS (602-876-8477) or 602-876-1011 and reference report No. 18-030786.

— Staff reports