Three Dead, Two Hospitalized in Crash near Interstate 17 in Phoenix

Three people have died and two others are hospitalized following a crash near Interstate 17 in north Phoenix. The incident occurred on Monday night at around 11 p.m. along 28th Avenue and Thunderbird Road, close to the freeway ramps.

According to the police, a Chevrolet Camaro was traveling westbound on Thunderbird when it ran a red light at the I-17 southbound access intersection. It collided with a Chevrolet Traverse that was heading south on the access road. After this initial collision, the Traverse then crashed into a Subaru that had stopped at a red light.

When authorities arrived at the scene, they found the Camaro engulfed in flames. Firefighters managed to rescue one passenger from the vehicle, identified as 21-year-old Esteban Espinoza-Lopez. He was rushed to a hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries later on. The driver of the Camaro escaped before it caught fire.

The driver of the Traverse, 54-year-old Majid Al Juhaishi, was also taken to a hospital where he passed away due to his injuries. A passenger in the Traverse named Tessa Jeffrey, aged 41, was not wearing her seatbelt and was ejected from the SUV during impact. First responders discovered her lifeless body near the crash site.

Two individuals who were inside the Subaru sustained non-life-threatening injuries and have since been released from medical care.

Charges are pending for an unnamed 22-year-old man who was driving the Camaro at high speed through intersections against traffic signals. Although initially detained by officers, he has been released pending toxicology reports.

During their investigation of this tragic accident, law enforcement closed Thunderbird Road between I-17 and 29th Avenue temporarily but has since reopened it for regular traffic flow.

In light of this tragic incident and with many families returning home after fireworks displays last night, taking measures like wearing seatbelts can make all the difference between celebrating with loved ones or mourning their loss.

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