Latest news with #BartGraves
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Arizona DPS detail makes more than 400 stops in Mesa area, issues 379 citations, arrests 4
The Arizona Highway Patrol carried out a major enforcement operation along a section of Loop 101 in the Mesa area on Wednesday, resulting in more than 400 vehicle stops within nine hours. The heightened enforcement comes amid ongoing concerns about an understaffed and underfunded Arizona Department of Public Safety. Last summer, Jeff Hawkins, president of the Arizona State Troopers Association, told The Arizona Republic that the department had just one officer for every 16,000 motorists, despite state law requiring no more than one highway patrol officer per 2,500 motorists. This week's maximum enforcement operation, carried out by highway patrol motorcycle troopers, covered a 17-mile stretch of Loop 101 in the Mesa area. Among the 406 vehicle stops, officers issued 183 speeding citations, 142 HOV violation citations, 43 cellphone citations, and 11 seat belt citations, while also making four arrests. "These operations happen periodically based on the crash rate of any given stretch of the state highway system." Bart Graves, spokesperson with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, told The Republic. The agency cited speeding as the biggest contributing factor toward crashes in Arizona. "State troopers are cracking down on unsafe driving statewide. Driving is a privilege ― if you violate the law, expect to be issued a citation. Expect to go to jail if you are criminally speeding (more than 20 mph over the posted limit) or driving recklessly," Highway Patrol Division Lt. Col. Daven Byrd said in a statement from DPS. Fatal weather: Vehicle pileup on I-40 near Williams kills 2 as winter storm delays emergency response This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Highway Patrol detail in Mesa area results in 400 stops
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Loop 202 crash: good Samaritan killed, several cars collide in chain reaction
The Brief An unidentified good Samaritan was killed when she went to check on a driver who crashed on Loop 202 in Phoenix early Sunday morning. She didn't know it, but DPS says the driver had already fled from their car. The crash caused a chain reaction, and several other cars crashed as a result. PHOENIX - A good Samaritan was killed when she went to check on a driver who had just crashed into a median wall on Loop 202 Sunday morning, Arizona DPS said. What we know The March 9 crash happened just after 5:20 a.m. A Dodge Durango driver headed west on Loop 202 lost control, hit a median wall at 40th Street, spun and came to a rest while facing the wrong way in the center lane of the highway. That driver fled the scene. However, a concerned driver stopped at the emergency shoulder, turned her hazard lights on and got out of her car to check on the driver. "Meanwhile, another driver saw the wrong-way-facing vehicle and swerved to the right, striking the good Samaritan, who was later pronounced deceased at a local hospital," said Arizona DPS spokesperson Bart Graves. That driver was also hurt and taken to the hospital. Investigators say impairment hasn't been ruled out in this driver's case. More crashes follow Then, DPS says a tire that came off of the first crashed car went into the eastbound lanes and caused a non-injury crash. Another car hit the first crashed car, but the driver wasn't hurt. "A short time later a fifth collision occurred involving three vehicles. No one was injured, but one of the drivers involved was arrested for DUI," Graves said. Westbound lanes were closed for about six hours and have been reopened. What we don't know The name of the good Samaritan wasn't released. We don't yet know what caused the Durango driver to lose control and crash.
Chicago Tribune
08-03-2025
- Climate
- Chicago Tribune
Storm dumps heavy snow on northern Arizona
A winter storm dumped heavy snow across northern Arizona on Friday, playing a major factor in a more than 15-mile backup on a major interstate. Semitrucks and other vehicles were stalled on Interstate 40 westbound between Flagstaff and Williams late Friday as the sun set. The standstill dragged on for hours. The snow, along with a two-vehicle crash contributed to the backup, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bart Graves said. 'We could not clear it quick enough to get traffic moving again because of the adverse snow conditions, he said. An injury was reported in the crash but no deaths were reported around the region as a result of the storm, Graves said. One driver got out of a vehicle and threw snowballs, while others nearby hooked a tow strap to a four-wheel drive vehicle to pull another vehicle out of deep snow. The storm was the biggest of the winter season so far and followed a dry stretch that left Flagstaff and numerous other cities across the West well below normal for precipitation to date. They'll likely stay there despite the snow and rain. The snowfall ranged from a few inches in lower elevations to more than a foot in places like Flagstaff and Munds Park. Williams, west of Flagstaff, got more than 2 feet of snow, according to the National Weather Service. The Arizona Snowbowl ski resort joked on X that Miracle March was in full effect. 'This weekend is bound to be epic,' it wrote in a post. Parts of other roadways were closed at times during the storm, including Interstate 17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix. Traffic was clogged on U.S. 89 north of Flagstaff, with multiple slide-offs and motorists parked over the icy road. The storm was expected to move east out of the state on Saturday, the weather service said. Originally Published:
Arab Times
08-03-2025
- Climate
- Arab Times
Storm dumps heavy snow on northern Arizona, gridlocking Interstate 40
PARKS, Ariz, March 8, (AP): A winter storm dumped heavy snow across northern Arizona on Friday, playing a major factor in a more than 15-mile (24-kilometer) backup on a major interstate. Semitrucks and other vehicles were stalled on Interstate 40 westbound between Flagstaff and Williams late Friday as the sun set. The standstill dragged on for hours. The snow, along with a two-vehicle crash contributed to the backup, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bart Graves said. "We could not clear it quick enough to get traffic moving again because of the adverse snow conditions, he said. An injury was reported in the crash but no deaths were reported around the region as a result of the storm, Graves said. One driver got out of a vehicle and threw snowballs, while others nearby hooked a tow strap to a four-wheel drive vehicle to pull another vehicle out of deep snow. The storm was the biggest of the winter season so far and followed a dry stretch that left Flagstaff and numerous other cities across the West well below normal for precipitation to date. They'll likely stay there despite the snow and rain. The snowfall ranged from a few inches in lower elevations to more than a foot (30 centimeters) in places like Flagstaff and Munds Park. Williams, west of Flagstaff, got more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow, according to the National Weather Service. The Arizona Snowbowl ski resort joked on X that Miracle March was in full effect. "This weekend is bound to be epic,' it wrote in a post. Parts of other roadways were closed at times during the storm, including Interstate 17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix. Traffic was clogged on U.S. 89 north of Flagstaff, with multiple slide-offs and motorists parked over the icy road. The storm was expected to move east out of the state on Saturday, the weather service said.
Al Arabiya
08-03-2025
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Storm dumps heavy snow on northern Arizona, gridlocking Interstate 40
A winter storm dumped heavy snow across northern Arizona on Friday, playing a major factor in a more than 15-mile (24-kilometer) backup on a major interstate. Semitrucks and other vehicles were stalled on Interstate 40 westbound between Flagstaff and Williams late Friday as the sun set. The standstill dragged on for hours. The snow, along with a two-vehicle crash contributed to the backup, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bart Graves said. 'We could not clear it quick enough to get traffic moving again because of the adverse snow conditions, he said. An injury was reported in the crash but no deaths were reported around the region as a result of the storm, Graves said. The storm was the biggest of the winter season so far and followed a dry stretch that left Flagstaff and numerous other cities across the West well below normal for precipitation to date. They'll likely stay there despite the snow and rain. The snowfall ranged from a few inches in lower elevations to more than a foot (30 centimeters) in places like Flagstaff and Munds Park, with the white stuff still falling. The Arizona Snowbowl ski resort joked on X that Miracle March was in full effect. 'This weekend is bound to be epic,' it wrote in a post. Parts of other roadways were closed at times during the storm, including Interstate 17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix. The storm was expected to move east out of the state on Saturday, the National Weather Service said.
