State troopers and transportation officials were on the scene Sunday evening after a fiery crash on the Loop 202 in Tempe that left at least one vehicle ablaze and forced lane closures on the busy freeway.
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The Arizona Department of Public Safety said troopers were called to the stretch of Loop 202 just west of McClintock Drive at about 5:30 p.m. for what was classified as an "unknown injury collision." Responders arriving at the location encountered a vehicle fire that was blocking multiple westbound lanes of travel.
An Arizona Department of Public Safety state trooper SUV pictured on a Phoenix-area freeway; DPS is investigating a fiery crash on the Loop 202 in Tempe, officials say.
A transportation advisory issued for the area warned that a vehicle fire on Loop 202 Red Mountain westbound near McClintock Drive was blocking the HOV and left lanes and was producing dark smoke that extended over the eastbound lanes. Motorists were urged to expect delays and to use extra caution while passing through the corridor. The smoke from the burning vehicle affected traffic in the eastbound lanes as well as the westbound lanes that were directly blocked by the incident.
At the time of the initial reports it was not yet clear how many people, if any, had been injured in the collision or how severe any injuries might be. Officials on scene described the call as an "unknown injury collision," and investigators continued to work to establish the circumstances that led to the vehicle catching fire.
Traffic restrictions were in place as crews and troopers worked to manage the scene, and the duration of those restrictions had not been determined. Drivers traveling through the area were advised to allow extra travel time as the incident continued to affect the flow of traffic on both sides of the freeway.
State troopers are leading the investigation into the crash while transportation personnel monitor lane closures and the impact of smoke on neighboring traffic. Authorities have not released further details on the number of vehicles involved, the identities of any occupants, or the timeline for reopening all lanes. Updates were expected as the response continued and more information became available.
Arizona DOT later updated that westbound Loop 202 was fully closed at Loop 101 due to the vehicle fire, with no estimated reopening time. Dark smoke continued impacting eastbound lanes, and drivers were directed to az511.gov for live traffic info. No injuries have been confirmed in available updates.