Rear-End Collision Sends at Least One to Hospital

A two-vehicle collision disrupted traffic at the intersection of Santa Cruz Drive and West Smith-Enke Road at approximately 9 a.m. this morning. The crash resulted in at least one individual being transported to the hospital, according to the Phoenix Regional Dispatch Center. Reporters on the scene witnessed emergency personnel loading a patient into an ambulance.

Maricopa police and fire departments quickly responded to the incident, where a Chevrolet Equinox rear-ended a Dodge Durango. The impact triggered the airbag system in the Chevrolet, causing significant traffic delays as westbound lanes were reduced to one for clearance operations.

Details about the injured party’s condition or the precise causes of the accident were not immediately available from the police. This crash marks the second significant incident on Smith-Enke Road today, following an earlier collision that left two vehicles stranded in the median roughly an hour prior.

Further updates will be provided by InMaricopa as new information becomes accessible.

Brian Petersheim Jr., a key member of the InMaricopa team since October 2020, reported this incident. Initially joining as a multimedia intern, Brian transitioned to a full-time role focusing on public safety stories after completing his education at Maricopa High School and enrolling in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. In addition to his journalism duties, Brian enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the local scenery.