PHOENIX, AZ : Phoenix Police cruiser involved in fiery deadly crash on Thursday, 21st December 2023

Police are investigating a fiery crash on Thursday involving a Phoenix Police SUV that left one person dead.

Phoenix Police say an officer was transporting a prisoner when they were hit by another vehicle just before 9 a.m. on Dec. 21 near 35th Avenue and Thunderbird Road. After hitting the police cruiser, the vehicle crashed into a power pole and went up in flames.

"I heard two bangs in the explosion. Saw the smoke and came running, and at that point, the back of the car was on fire," said Ryan Hayes.

Workers at a nearby business reportedly used a fire extinguisher to fight the fire for a time after the crash.

The driver, identified by police as 19-year-old Ashley Vailes, was pronounced dead at the scene.


Source