Deadly Collision Claims Two Lives Near Riggs Road

Crews are diligently working to clear a flipped vehicle along Interstate 10 after a serious accident on October 16, 2024. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) announced that all lanes have been reopened in both directions between Riggs and Casa Blanca Roads as of 6:16 p.m.

The tragic incident, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left two others injured, began around 12:09 p.m. Traffic was already slow near milepost 169 when a two-axle box truck collided with a pickup truck and three additional vehicles about two miles south of Riggs Road. The impact pushed the trucks into the median, igniting a fire that proved fatal for both drivers.

Initial reports indicated that the two deceased were male. However, Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) spokesperson Bart Graves noted that authorities were “not completely certain as to the sex of both fatalities.” Fortunately, there were no passengers in either truck. Emergency responders transported individuals from other vehicles involved in the crash to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

While the eastbound lanes reopened earlier in the afternoon at 5:18 p.m., westbound lanes remained closed for an extended period due to the extent of the wreckage. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Motorists were advised to expect delays and consider alternate routes. Photographs captured from the scene depicted the aftermath, including a vehicle overturned in a ditch, with a private tow company onsite to clear the debris.

This remains a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.