Authorities investigated two crashes involving wrong-way drivers Tuesday night and early Wednesday on Valley freeways.

The first collision took place just after 11:30 p.m. at State Route 51 and Thomas Road in Phoenix, said Arizona Department of Public Safety officials.

The driver of a black Ford Mustang, Justin Lee Lopez, 25, was reportedly speeding northbound along the Interstate 17 near Camelback Road, when a DPS trooper attempted to stop him.

Lopez failed to yield to troopers, according to DPS. 

Troopers did not continue to pursue the vehicle, but they were able to track its location with the help of a Phoenix Police Department helicopter, according to DPS. 

Lopez initially made his way through city streets before attempting to enter State Route 51 the wrong way at Thomas Road, where he crashed. 

Lopez and his two passengers fled the area and, with the help of Phoenix police, were taken into custody. 

The on-ramp for northbound SR-51 at Thomas Road remained closed for the investigation and was reopened just before 1 a.m.

Lopez was booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of aggravated DUI, felony flight, failure to obey law enforcement and criminal speeding.

The two passengers were released.

The second crash happened shortly after 1:30 a.m. at State Route 101 and Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale. A woman driving a vehicle southbound in the northbound lanes of SR-101 collided head-on with a semitruck near Shea Boulevard, according to DPS officials. 

The semitruck driver was not injured, and the 24-year-old wrong-way driver, whose name was not released, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

SR-101 was closed until about 5 a.m.

According to DPS, impairment is suspected as a cause of this crash. 

 

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