At the scene, authorities located a semi-truck and a van with heavy damage. A preliminary investigation found that the van had slammed into the trailer of the big rig
Surprise, AZ – One person was killed in a big rig collision that occurred at a Surprise intersection early Friday morning, according to the Surprise Police Department.
At about 3 a.m. January 2, authorities responded to reports of a collision in area of Grand Avenue and Dysart Road.
At the scene, authorities located a semi-truck and a van with heavy damage. A preliminary investigation found that the van had slammed into the trailer of the big rig.
Surprise police were assisted by firefighters who transported multiple parties to a hospital. Unfortunately, one of the drivers succumbed to their injuries.
Identifying details of the deceased driver as well as the conditions of the hospitalized patients were not immediately released.
Both sides of Grand Avenue were shut down for over six hours while emergency personnel worked at the scene. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, all roads were reopened at about 9:30 a.m.
The cause of the deadly accident is under investigation by the Surprise Police Department.
Maricopa County, where Surprise City is located, has the highest population in Arizona and is the fourth-most populated countrywide. The county highly contributes to the traffic accidents that result in injuries and fatalities yearly in Arizona. The state has seen a slight decline in traffic incidents over the past two years, but crash-related fatalities remain high. In 2023, the state recorded 122,247 motor-vehicle crashes resulting in 1,307 deaths, according to reports by AZDOT. In 2024, total crashes dropped to 121,107 and fatalities fell to 1,228 – a 6.1% decrease from the previous year. Despite this modest improvement, serious injuries and fatalities remain near historically high levels, underscoring persistent road-safety challenges. Speeding, impaired driving, and failure to use proper safety equipment continue to be leading contributors to fatal and serious collisions statewide. While emergency response initiatives and public-awareness campaigns aim to curb these risks, Arizona’s highways and urban roadways still experience a substantial number of severe crashes each year.
If you have lost a loved one in a crash, you can learn more about your options by visiting our wrongful death attorney page.