Interstate 10 re-opens after woman killed near downtown Phoenix

PHOENIX - Authorities say a pedestrian has been killed Thursday morning on a downtown Phoenix freeway.

A delivery truck hit the female pedestrian in the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 at 7th Street around 4:45 a.m.

Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Larry Nunez said the victim died at the scene.

ABC15's Traffic Anchor Brandon Hamilton said three lanes of the freeway were blocked but have since reopened.

Troy Barrett in Air15 called it an "amazing backup," saying westbound traffic was backed up to the area of Arizona State University.

ABC15 spoke with the driver of the truck who said he was headed back from Tucson when the accident happened.

Dragan Kartalija said he saw the victim in the roadway but wasn't able to avoid the collision. He said there was a semi-truck next to him and he had nowhere to go.

Kartalija also said he didn't see a vehicle broken down or stopped on the freeway in the area.

Department of Public Safety Officer Bill Westsik said the victim is a woman, but they don't know who she is at this point as she was not carrying any identification.

Westsik also said officers did not find a broken-down vehicle on the freeway.