Phoenix Fire Department officials have confirmed Megan Lange, a Phoenix Fire emergency dispatcher has died after being hit by a wrong way driver Tuesday morning. A DPS officer was traveling northbound along I-17 near Glendale Avenue when he observed a vehicle driven by 39-year-old Stephen B. Martin traveling the wrong-way towards him at 1:03 a.m.
The officer immediately began to conduct a traffic break in order to slow northbound traffic behind him however, the wrong-way vehicle passed the officer.
The wrong-way vehicle, a large sport utility vehicle, side-swiped a passenger car and then collided with the small sport utility vehicle driven by Lange.
The driver of the passenger car that was side-swiped sustained minor injury and was treated by the Phoenix Fire Department on scene. Martin and his passenger a 38 year-old woman sustained minor injuries and were also transported to St. Joseph’s.
DPS Detectives suspect alcohol related impairment was a factor however; the investigation remains open.
The I-17 northbound traffic lanes were closed between 1:03 a.m. and 8:05 a.m.
DPS offers the following information to assist in preventing wrong-way collisions:
• Most wrong-ways occur between the hours of 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. on weekends.
• Wrong-way vehicles typically use the HOV or the far-left lane because they assume those lanes are for opposing traffic, as if they were traveling on a city street or rural highway.
• Traveling in the middle lane can increase your chances of avoiding a wrong-way vehicle.
• Since the majority of wrong-way incidents involve driver impairment always designate a sober driver
The most important thing to remember is to avoid distractions and stay alert while driving, thus increasing your ability to see and avoid any oncoming wrong-way vehicle.