On October 25, 2024, at approximately 1:20 a.m., Tempe Fire crews responded to a single-vehicle accident near the northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and the Red Mountain L-202 freeway in Tempe. The incident involved a car crashing into a power pole, resulting in the pole being severed at its base and the vehicle igniting into flames.
Firefighters arrived promptly and assessed the scene, initially applying water from a distance due to the proximity of live power lines. As a safety measure, they investigated the power lines to confirm if they remained active. Once it was verified that the lines were de-energized, fire crews swiftly extinguished the flames. The crash led to a power disruption in the area, causing traffic lights at nearby intersections to go offline.
A 15-year-old occupant of the vehicle was transported to a local hospital, though their condition remains unknown at this time. Due to the extent of the damage and safety concerns, officers closed northbound and southbound lanes on Scottsdale Road on the north side of the L-202. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) was requested to shut down the eastbound exit ramp to Scottsdale Road.
Tempe Police, along with DPS and Tempe Fire, handled the incident. An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.