Two Dead in Tempe Crash: Jesse Ruiz and Maria Rangel

A man was taken into custody in Tempe, Arizona, after a high-speed crash that resulted in the deaths of his two passengers. The suspect has been identified as 32-year-old Derek Glasscock.

According to court documents, the incident occurred just after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday when Tempe police observed two cars street racing near Rural Road and Terrace Road. Both vehicles were reportedly traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph in a 35 mph zone. Officers attempted to stop one of the cars involved, a blue Ford Mustang driven by Glasscock, but he fled from them.

Although police did not pursue the vehicle, they soon noticed a cloud of smoke rising into the air. Upon investigation, they discovered that Glasscock had crashed his Mustang into a power pole on the east side of Rural Road just south of Broadway. Glasscock was trapped inside the driver's seat while both passengers had been ejected from the vehicle.

Tragically, one passenger identified as 32-year-old Jesse Ruiz was pronounced dead at the scene. The other passenger named Maria Rangel succumbed to her injuries later at a hospital.

During interactions with officers following the crash, Glasscock allegedly admitted to consuming alcohol and acknowledged that he should not have been driving. Police noted that he appeared disoriented and struggled to recall details from earlier in the evening.

Glasscock later informed investigators that he had attended a concert at a downtown Tempe bar where he consumed at least three mixed drinks before losing memory until after the collision.

Based on evidence gathered at the scene, authorities estimate that Glasscock was traveling approximately 153 mph when he lost control of his vehicle. The Mustang went airborne before colliding with both a utility pole and two palm trees. Investigators determined that during impact with one of these palm trees, it reached an altitude exceeding nine feet (2 meters).

Describing it as an "extremely violent" crash, police revealed that the force of the collision propelled Rangel approximately 80 feet (24 meters) behind a nearby building.

Ruiz and Rangel were in a relationship and lived together, according to law enforcement officials.

Glasscock has been charged with two felony counts of reckless manslaughter and is currently being held at Maricopa County jail.

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