Phoenix (3TV/CBS 5) — Three people are dead and one man is in critical condition after a serious two-vehicle crash late Saturday night in west Phoenix.
Phoenix police arrived at Thomas Road and 59th Avenue around 10:14 p.m. to find a pickup truck ablaze. Phoenix firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze, and their investigation found that three people trapped inside the truck died in the blaze.
Two men were found in the second vehicle and they were taken to a nearby hospital. One man suffered life-threatening injuries and the other suffered minor injuries. Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Melissa Soliz said the vehicle carrying two people rear-ended the pickup truck as it was traveling east on Thomas Road.
Edgar Ramirez, owner of Tacos Los Primos on Thomas Road and 60th Avenue, was one of the first to arrive. He tried to help the victim with a fire extinguisher. The crash, captured on a neighbor’s Ring camera, shows a sedan pulling away before hitting a pickup truck. A violent explosion ensued and the truck was completely engulfed in flames.
Ramirez’s momentary panic quickly turned into action. Ramirez said he gave it his all. “I sprayed fire on the vehicle, and there was absolutely no way it would go away,” Ramirez said. “The feeling of not being able to help…it’s not a good experience. It’s scary.”
Police have not released the identities of all five. The two people in the sedan chair are in the hospital. Tonight friends and witnesses will hold a small candlelight vigil for the victims.
Phoenix police are investigating what led to the crash. Police believe speed was a factor, and investigators are awaiting a toxicology report to see if injuries were a factor in the crash.
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