Four people were taken to the hospital Monday, one in critical condition, after a suspect tried to get away from police and crashed into another vehicle.
Phoenix police Sgt. Jonathan Howard said an officer stopped a vehicle along eastbound Interstate 10 at 43rd Avenue. When the officer discovered indicators of illegal drugs, he asked the driver to step out of the vehicle.
The suspect and a woman, who have not been identified, decided to drive off and exit at 43rd Avenue before crashing into a commercial vehicle with four people inside at the intersection
Both suspects then fled. The woman fell shortly after and was taken into custody, said police. The man hid in a shed behind a home before being caught and dragged out by officers.
The four people inside the vehicle were transported to the hospital with serious injuries, one listed in critical condition. The male and female suspects were also taken to the hospital for treatment.
"Depending on how bad some of these people are hurt, we're looking at aggravated assault," Howard said. "If one ends up dying manslaughter, drug charges, fleeing from law enforcement, a whole slew of charges, over what started as a relatively minor offense."
Air15 video showed several vehicles involved in the crash, including an SRP vehicle.
All of the patients were adults between 25 and 45 years old.
Detectives are on scene and motorists should avoid the intersection.
Phoenix fire officials closed down 43rd Avenue between McDowell Road and Roosevelt, and the I-10 on- and off-ramps at 43rd Avenue, but reopened the exit around 10:40 p.m.
