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PD: Man impaired as he returns from funeral, causes deadly 3-car crash

Posted at 1:51 PM, Aug 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-18 16:51:07-04

A man returning from a funeral is accused of driving impaired and causing a deadly three-car crash in Glendale, according to court records.

Police responded to the collision near 63rd and Peoria Avenues around 4:15 p.m., after reports that three vehicles had collided and one was on top of another.

Police interviewed one of the men on scene, 35-year-old Benjamin David Tangen, who reportedly told them that he was on the way to Home Depot to get a tool for work after attending a co-worker's funeral earlier that day.

According to police, Tangen showed signs of impairment, and a blood draw confirmed has BAC was above the legal limit, registering at .11.

Witnesses say the Chevy Tahoe he was driving was traveling at a high rate of speed on eastbound Peoria Avenue when it made a turn from the middle lane onto northbound 63rd Avenue.   

The Tahoe collided with two vehicles, killing one man and injuring another.

Tangen self-surrendered to police on August 11. He has prior DUI convictions in 2003 and 2006, and has now been charged with endangerment and manslaughter.