A Phoenix man has been booked into jail on multiple felony charges, including second-degree murder and aggravated DUI, following a deadly crash that shut down a major intersection and left one person dead.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, 48-year-old Lee Arthur Simmons Jr. is accused of causing a multi-vehicle collision around 11:45 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of 27th Avenue and Indian School Road.
Investigators said Simmons was traveling eastbound on Indian School Road when he allegedly failed to stop for a red light and crashed into two vehicles that were waiting at the intersection. The force of the impact pushed those vehicles into oncoming traffic, causing a chain-reaction collision involving several additional vehicles.
One of the drivers struck in the crash, 60-year-old Richard Alejo Lovato, suffered critical injuries and was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
Two other people were also hospitalized. Police said a pedestrian crossing Indian School Road was struck by debris or a vehicle during the collision and sustained serious injuries but is expected to survive. Another driver involved in the crash was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
Following the investigation at the scene, Simmons was taken into custody and processed for DUI-related offenses. He was later booked into the Maricopa County jail on charges that include second-degree murder, aggravated DUI while driving on a suspended license, aggravated DUI while operating a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device, aggravated assault and endangerment.
The intersection remained closed for several hours as investigators processed the scene and gathered evidence.
Authorities have not released additional details regarding Simmons’ alleged impairment or what may have led to the crash. The case remains under investigation.
