Phoenix I-17 crash video: Trucks left dangling over freeway edge

Pickup truck and car-hauler plunge off I-17 in Phoenix after violent crash

Dramatic dashcam footage shows the moment a pickup swerved into a semi-truck, sending both through a guardrail and off a Phoenix freeway.

PHOENIX - Dramatic dashcam video shows the moment of impact when a pickup truck veered into a car-hauling semi-truck along a busy Phoenix freeway midday Thursday.

The crash occurred along Interstate 17 near 7th Avenue. Batkhishig Nasanbayar, the owner of the hauling company Khan Trans Inc., described the footage in an interview with FOX 10.

"He was driving in the middle lane, exactly in the middle lane, and some pickup truck hit his truck from his left," Nasanbayar said. "The truck and another car hit it through the curb and luckily our driver was professional and that's why he prevented the big accident."

What we know:

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the driver of the pickup truck was ejected from the vehicle, which flipped over and landed on its hood. That driver was reportedly conscious on the scene and taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The passenger of the pickup and the driver of the car-hauler were also hospitalized. The ordeal led to words of caution from those involved.

What they're saying:

"It isn't only about one person, everyone on the road has to be careful. Driving is not a game, you know," Nasanbayar said.

The aftermath of the crash saw the hauler dangling off the highway as fire crews attempted to climb the steep embankment. Phoenix Fire Capt. DJ Lee said this type of wreck required special heavy rescue equipment.

"We were able to utilize our different rescue struts and rescue jacks and some rescue straps to help stabilize the semi-trailer so it didn't go any farther over the hill or have the potential of rolling over, causing more danger to ourselves or any potential victims," Lee said.
 

What we don't know:

No names have been released in this case.

Dashcam footage captures terrifying I-17 crash

Dramatic dashcam video shows the moment of impact when a pickup truck veered into a car hauling truck along a busy Valley freeway.

What's next:

The recovery was a massive undertaking, taking crews several hours to pull the wreckage back onto the roadway using a heavy-duty crane. 

The closure sparked a traffic nightmare for miles as multiple lanes were blocked due to the crash. The good news for drivers heading home from work is that all lanes are now open along I-17. 

Investigators are now working to determine what led up to the wreck.

Crash involving car hauler, pickup truck on I-17

Two people were hurt in a crash between a car hauler and a pickup truck near Interstate 17 and 7th Avenue on March 12.