I-10 eastbound was closed near Tempe after a fatal crash and “scuffle” involving traffic police

TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) – The eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 are closed in the Tempe and Ahwatukee areas of the Phoenix area following a serious accident Monday evening.

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, officers responded to reports of a person in the westbound lanes of the highway around 8:30 p.m. As officers attempted to arrest the suspect, he ran across lanes, jumped the median and was struck by a car on the east side.

A short time later there was an argument between the police officer and the suspect. At about the same time, a collision between two other, unrelated vehicles resulted in the death of a passenger in one of those vehicles, said DPS spokesman Warrant Trent.

The suspect was taken into custody. Her injuries are unknown. The drivers of both passengers were also injured.

Significant delays of several hours are expected while Arizona State Police conduct their investigation. Motorists are urged to find an alternative route as it is not yet known when the motorway might reopen.

Visit Arizona’s Family First Alert Traffic map for current road conditions.

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