The Arizona Department of Public Safety says a wrong-way driver was arrested Monday night on the US 60 after causing several crashes.
DPS says the driver, 32-year-old Trent Walker, was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes near Val Vista Road around 7:45 p.m. and crashed into at least five vehicles before correcting their direction.
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Walker allegedly traveled seven miles in the wrong direction before correcting himself. DPS arrested him on the Val Vista Drive off-ramp moments later.
DPS says impairment is suspected in the incident.
Walker admitted to consuming 15 to 20 gel tablets of cough medicine at one time, according to court documents. DPS said lab results of the driver are pending.
#WrongWayDriver stopped & arrested by our troopers along #US60 at Val Vista. Impairment hasn't been ruled out. pic.twitter.com/G6OoIwYCza
— Dept. Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) May 30, 2017
Walker was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. No other drivers or occupants were injured after Walker allegedly caused five collisions, according to court documents.
“My cousin screamed. I looked forward, and there’s just headlights coming at me. If he didn’t scream--I mean, I was trying to put two and two together. It’s not normal to see lights coming at you," said Sean Flook, a driver who swerved to avoid the wrong way driver.
Several drivers told ABC15 that the suspect got on to the US-60 on the off-ramp at Country Club and wedged himself between vehicles, crashing into the vehicles, to get onto the highway the wrong way.
“He (suspect) was talking on the phone. He had a deer in the headlights kind of look and didn’t look like anything was going to stop him. He just kept going," said a man who did not want to be identified. He says the suspect crashed into his car.
Walker will be charged with at least five counts of hit and run, and nine counts of endangerment according to DPS. More charges are still possible in the case.
Stay with ABC15 and ABC15.com for the latest on this developing situation.
