Phoenix police and fire officials had their hands full on Saturday, August 28, when 69 vehicles were involved in multiple car accidents on Interstate 10. Investigators have speculated that the severe thunderstorms experienced by the area that evening led to the collisions.

Car accidents of any sort can lead to serious personal injuries. When so many drivers were involved in crashes, it was inevitable that at least a few individuals would be injured.

Phoenix fire officers evaluated at least 40 individuals for medical problems at the scene, and seven people were taken to area hospitals. Two of those individuals suffered injuries that warranted classifying them as being in "serious condition."

The Arizona Department of Public Safety said that 911 operators received "dozens and dozens" of phone calls between 6:15 and 6:30 pm on Saturday evening.

Investigators closed I-10 for about 4 hours from the start of the crash to assist victims and evaluate the circumstances that caused the collisions. The Public Safety spokesman said, "This is all definitely weather related... people are driving freeway speeds without slowing down. It's like a big chain reaction." However, the Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Captain Jonathan Jacobs said that he though motorists did slow down because of the rain.

Of the 69 vehicles involved in the accidents, about half were able to be driven away from the scene. Many tow trucks were used to clear the 2.5 mile stretch of highway blocked by the multiple car accidents. A city bus offered shelter to those who did not need to be transported to the hospital but whose vehicles were inoperable after the crash.

Source: The Arizona Republic, "Multiple crashes involving 69 cars close I-10" Ofelia Madrid, 28 Aug 2010