A Phoenix man is dead and a teenage girl is fighting for her life after a dump truck slammed into the back of their SUV on a highway near Lake Pleasant Monday, triggering a multi-vehicle pileup that left wreckage across both lanes of traffic.
Lance Estervig, 54, was pronounced dead at a hospital following the 11:45 a.m. collision on State Route 74 near 87th Avenue. A 17-year-old female passenger in his white Jeep Grand Cherokee remains hospitalized in critical condition.
According to Peoria police, the dump truck was traveling eastbound when it struck the rear of Estervig’s vehicle. The force of the impact sent the dump truck off the roadway, where it overturned onto its side. The Jeep was pushed into oncoming westbound traffic, where it collided with a black Ford Expedition — setting off a chain reaction that ultimately involved four vehicles in total.
The dump truck driver was uninjured and stayed at the scene, cooperating with investigators. A third driver involved in the crash was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
Peoria Police Traffic Services Unit is leading the investigation. No charges have been filed, and authorities have not yet indicated whether speed or impairment played a role in the crash.
