PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — The Arizona Department of Public Safety says a semi-truck driver was killed after losing control and slamming into a pillar on a busy interchange in central Phoenix early Monday morning. Troopers say the semi jackknifed around 6:10 a.m. The 56-year-old driver initially suffered serious injuries, but troopers later said he was pronounced dead at the hospital. His name has not been released. It’s unknown what caused the driver to lose control.
Southbound traffic along the I-17 experienced major backups from Cactus Road into central Phoenix throughout the morning commute. Drivers were asked to use Grand Avenue, nearby surface streets, or the SR-51 as alternative routes. In addition, the on-ramp from southbound I-17 to westbound I-10 in Phoenix was closed for several hours but reopened shortly after 11 a.m. Click/tap here for live traffic conditions.
#TrafficAlert Chopper now over scene of jack-knifed semi on the I-17 SB ramp to the I-10 WB (The Stack).
We should expect the ramp to be closed through the AM commute. #azfamily pic.twitter.com/hVRnON22Yi
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