TONOPAH, Ariz. (KPHO/KTVK/Gray News) – Four people died and several others were hurt after a fiery chain-reaction crash involving a dozen vehicles on an Arizona interstate.
The incident happened around 1 p.m. Saturday on Interstate 10 near Tonopah. The Arizona Department of Public Safety said one collision occurred, leading to more secondary crashes, KPHO/KTVK reports.
A dozen vehicles were involved, including six commercial vehicles, four passenger vehicles, a van and an RV towing a trailer. The crashes caused multiple vehicles to catch fire.
DPS confirmed Sunday that four people died in the incident. Two people remain in critical condition, and one person was admitted to the hospital. Five others were treated and released.
One of those killed was confirmed to be the driver of a commercial vehicle.
“State troopers are still working to contact all the families of those involved and will not be releasing names or identification at this time. Our focus is on conducting a thorough and detailed investigation and supporting, as best we can, those involved in this tragic incident,” said DPS in a statement.
While details about the crash remain limited, troopers are investigating whether blowing dust, which may have caused reduced visibility, was a factor in the collision.
“Very tragic situation,” said Warren Trent, a public information manager for DPS.
Sean Benedict, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, shared a satellite image with KPHO/KTVK. The arrow points to the highway, and you can see movement, which Benedict explained is smoke from the fiery collision.
“There’s evidence of maybe some shallow light dust or maybe a wave of light dust that moved across the highway around that time frame,” he said.
By shallow, he means it doesn’t create a tall wall of dust like a dust storm would. However, it could still create dangerous conditions for drivers.
“You can still have significant impacts from shallow dust. If it is high enough to go above the vehicle, then you’re also looking through a lot of dust, so that can still lower your visibility on a horizontal distance,” Benedict said.
He said due to the drought, Arizona residents can expect a longer dust storm season, which means drivers need to be prepared for anything.
DPS said whenever there’s low visibility, it’s important to slow down and remember “Pull Aside, Stay Alive.”
DPS asks anyone with information on the crash to contact them at 1-888-4AZTIPS (1-888-429-8477) or submit a tip online at www.azactic.gov.
Editor’s Note: DPS initially said six people were killed and 13 were injured. However, these numbers were corrected during a press conference on Sunday morning to reflect that four people are dead.
Copyright 2025 KPHO/KTVK via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.