A man was killed early Thursday after entering the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 in Phoenix and being struck by two vehicles, officials said. The sequence of events began around 4:30 a.m. when an initial collision occurred on the westbound I‑10 off‑ramp at 67th Avenue. Moments after that crash, the man involved exited his vehicle and ran into traffic on the freeway, where he was struck and later pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash on the off‑ramp drew emergency responders to the area in the pre‑dawn hours. Investigators say the individual got out of his car after the initial collision and moved into the active travel lanes of westbound I‑10. Within moments of entering the roadway, he was struck by one vehicle and then by a second, sustaining fatal injuries. Both drivers who struck him remained at the scene following the collisions.
Authorities on scene described a rapid and tragic chain of events. One of the drivers told state troopers that, as he was braking, the man intentionally jumped in front of his vehicle. The driver said the man was then hit by a second vehicle that followed. Troopers took statements from drivers at the scene as part of the response; the person who ran onto the roadway was pronounced dead at the location of the collision.
Traffic and transportation cameras captured the moments leading up to the fatal impact. Footage shows the man running along the westbound lanes of I‑10 near the 67th Avenue exit just before the collisions occurred. The images recorded by Arizona’s traffic cameras provide a visual timeline of the incident and have been used by investigators to piece together how events unfolded in the early morning hours.
Aerial traffic camera image (ADOT) showing a man running in the westbound lanes of I‑10 near 67th Avenue in Phoenix shortly before he was struck, timestamped 07/09/2026 04:33:59.
Officials have not released the name of the man who died. With identification pending, investigators continued to document the scene after the collisions and take statements from those involved. Both drivers remained on site and cooperated with troopers as preliminary information was gathered. No additional injuries to other motorists were reported in connection with the incident.
The fatal incident prompted the closure of some westbound I‑10 lanes and created substantial traffic delays during Thursday’s morning commute. Drivers in the area encountered heavy congestion as crews worked at the scene; authorities advised motorists to expect delays while lanes were blocked for emergency response and collision investigation. The shutdown of key lanes on a major arterial in the city contributed to slowed traffic and longer travel times for commuters heading westbound during the typical rush period.
State troopers continue to process the scene and compile a report detailing the circumstances of the crash and the subsequent events on the freeway. With the man’s identity not yet public and investigations ongoing, officials have limited details available for release. The public was urged to avoid the area while responders were at work, and motorists were asked to use alternate routes where possible until the roadway was fully cleared and normal traffic flow resumed.