Phoenix police have named the driver who died following a multi-vehicle collision in West Phoenix over the weekend as Marshall Craig Davis, 68. The crash took place near 7200 West Buckeye Road — in the vicinity of 72nd Avenue and Buckeye Road — and officials report it occurred at approximately 10:42 a.m. on July 5. Authorities have released only limited details as investigators continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash.
Officers who responded to the scene found Davis unresponsive inside his vehicle. Phoenix firefighters worked at the wreckage to extricate him; despite those efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to law enforcement. The immediate on-scene actions included securing the area and coordinating with fire personnel to remove the injured occupant from the damaged vehicle.
Preliminary information provided by investigators indicates Davis’s vehicle drifted into the eastbound lanes and struck one of two semi-trucks head-on. The force of that initial impact pushed the second semi-truck off the roadway. Both truck drivers remained at the scene and authorities reported neither suffered injuries. Beyond those initial findings, police have not released additional information about the condition of the vehicles or specifics about the speeds or other circumstances at the time of the collision.
Police tape at a crash scene in Phoenix following a fatal West Phoenix semi-truck collision, authorities say.
The crash prompted a temporary closure of Buckeye Road in both directions. Roadwork and investigative activity kept the thoroughfare closed for several hours on Sunday while crews documented the scene and collected evidence. Drivers were advised to avoid the area and use alternate routes while investigators conducted their work. Officials did not provide a timetable for the road’s reopening or indicate when the traffic disruption would be fully resolved.
The Phoenix Police Department’s Vehicular Crimes Unit has taken over the investigation and is leading efforts to determine exactly what caused Davis to drift into the eastbound lanes. That unit handles collisions involving fatalities and serious injuries, and it typically conducts interviews, gathers witness statements, examines vehicle damage, and reviews any available video or telemetry. At this stage, investigators have not released additional findings or a determination of fault.
Both semi-truck drivers remained on scene after the collision and cooperated with investigators, police said. There was no immediate indication from law enforcement that either truck driver was hurt; officials did not identify the truck drivers or provide information about the commercial vehicles involved. The limited release of information reflects the ongoing nature of the inquiry and the department’s practice of withholding certain details while examinations are underway.
Authorities have asked the public to stay clear of the investigation area and to monitor official channels for updates. As the Vehicular Crimes Unit continues its work, police have so far declined to offer a timeline for when they will release more information or conclude the inquiry. The investigation remains active, and further details will be provided as they become available through the department.
No additional statements or clarifications about the circumstances leading up to the crash have been published by investigators. The family of the deceased has not been publicly named beyond the identification provided by police, and authorities have not announced any planned releases, briefings or public memorial arrangements. For now, the facts confirmed by law enforcement remain the identification of the deceased as Marshall Craig Davis, the time and location of the crash, the involvement of two semi-trucks, the extrication and pronouncement of death at the scene, the lack of injuries reported among the truck drivers and the ongoing investigation by the Vehicular Crimes Unit.
Arizona's Family (KPHO/KTVK) reported the crash occurred just after 10:30 a.m. near Buckeye Road and 71st Avenue, a slightly different time and intersection than some other initial accounts.
The Phoenix Police Department's Vehicular Crimes Unit — which is leading the probe — lists a public contact number (602-262-6082) on its information page and notes that its involvement does not necessarily indicate a crime; the page also explains that collision reports may be requested under Arizona's public records law.