Loop 101 crash at Elliot Road: 1 killed in crash on E. Valley freeway, says DPS

TEMPE, AZ - Authorities are investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident that closed an east Valley freeway for several hours Friday morning.

The Department of Public Safety says the two-vehicle accident happened on the southbound Loop 101 at Elliot Road at 3:34 a.m.

DPS spokesman Bart Graves says the person who died was a backseat passenger in the vehicle.

Graves said the department received a call of a vehicle blocking the roadway and when officers arrived they found the man deceased.

There were three people in the Chevy Cavalier, Graves said, with the driver and front seat passenger suffering non life-threatening injuries. All three are males in their 20s. The injured men were taken to a Scottsdale hospital.

Graves said the front seat passenger and back seat passenger are twins.

One witness reported seeing a dark-colored SUV traveling approximately 100 mph before the crash. DPS is now looking for that vehicle and driver.

The vehicle is described as a four-door 2007 Chevy Tahoe SUV with a sun roof and roof rack and tinted windows. The vehicle has oversized 22 inch custom rims with a six-star configuration. The vehicle will have front end damage.

Graves said the driver of the Cavalier was being tested for impairment. He said it was raining at the time, but said the nature of the damage to the car indicated a high speed crash.

Traffic was backed up to Baseline Road and the freeway reopened at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Anyone with information about the accident is urged to call the Department of Public Safety.