PHOENIX, AZ : Several hurt in 12-vehicle crash on SR 347 at Riggs Road on Wednesday, December 28th 2016

At least five people were taken to the hospital after a collision involving 12 vehicles on southbound State Route 347 at Riggs Road on the Gila River Indian Reservation.

"A maroon pickup truck was traveling northbound along State Route 347," Department of Public Safety spokesman said in the hours after the crash. "Due to an unknown reason at this time, it crossed the median into the southbound lanes of traffic in the area of Riggs Road. That vehicle proceeded to [travel the] wrong way and collided with multiple vehicles north of the intersection."

Personnel from the Phoenix Fire Department and the Gila River Fire Department responded to the scene shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday.

"Seven patients including the at-fault driver were transported to local hospitals with injuries ranging from serious to critical," Grave said.

One person reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries. One woman had a partially severed arm but it's unclear if she's the one in critical condition.

The Phoenix Fire Department initially said there was one fatality but later said no one had died.

"It was a disaster here, southbound along 347," said Raul Garcia with DPS.

The driver who caused the crash is in the hospital and impairment hasn't been ruled out as a factor in the crash, Garcia said.

One of the vehicles did have a family inside but Garcia didn't say if any children were hurt.

While there were 12 vehicles within the scene, Graves said not all of them were involved in the actual collision.

"Some of those vehicles sustained damage from flying debris ...," he explained, saying that each one of the dozen vehicles is "part of the overall investigation."

SR 347 is the main thoroughfare into Maricopa.

The freeway remained closed in both directions throughout Wednesday evening according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Southbound lanes were closed at Interstate 10. Troopers were directing northbound traffic onto Riggs.

The roadway finally reopened before 5 a.m. Thursday.

Source :
Several hurt in 12-vehicle crash on SR 347 at Riggs Road