Wrong-way driver hits trooper's vehicle, 2 other cars on Loop 202; 1 dead

Wrong-way driver hits trooper's vehicle and 2 other cars, DPS officials say

According to DPS, serious injuries were reported in the head-on crash on Nov. 25 along the Loop 101 near McClintock Drive in the East Valley. The crash resulted in the closure of some of the freeway's lanes for some time.

TEMPE, Ariz. - An 81-year-old woman is dead after the Arizona Department of Public Safety said a wrong-way driver struck a trooper's vehicle and another car before crashing head-on into a third vehicle Thursday in Tempe.

According to DPS, the passenger in the wrong-way vehicle was killed in the crash that happened along the westbound Loop 202 Red Mountain at Loop 101 on Nov. 25 around 11 a.m.

The victim was identified as 81-year-old Magdalena Moreno, a Guadalupe resident. She was the wife of the wrong-way driver.

Three other people involved in the crash were injured, DPS said.

On Dec. 1, DPS released more information on what led up to the deadly crash.

Troopers responded to reports of a wrong-way driver on Loop 202 and once the driver was found, a DPS sergeant attempted to slow down traffic to prevent other drivers from becoming victims.

"The sergeant observed the wrong-way vehicle approaching and intentionally struck the driver’s side of the wrong-way vehicle with the patrol vehicle to disable the wrong-way vehicle," said Raul Garcia, DPS spokesperson.

The driver continued and hit two other cars, including a truck, head-on. Two people in the truck had minor injuries.

"The 78-year-old male driver and 81-year-old female passenger of the wrong-way vehicle sustained serious injuries and were transported to a hospital. The female passenger was pronounced deceased at the hospital," Garcia said.

The investigation is ongoing and impairment has not been ruled out.