Phoenix, AZ – Ronald Cruz Killed in Fatal Car Crash at 16th St & Buckeye Rd

Phoenix, AZ (November 28, 2020) – A suspected drunk driver and the victim of a fatal car accident have been identified after two separate crashes occurred on Friday morning in the greater Phoenix area.

Per reports from the Phoenix Police Department, a 25-year-old man, identified as Martin Perez, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after killing another man when he drove into oncoming traffic. Police say that Perez crashed into two separate cars on Friday morning around 8:30 a.m. near 16th Street and Buckeye Road.

Perez was driving northbound in a silver truck when he crossed over into oncoming traffic, hitting a black sedan. The woman driving the black sedan wasn’t seriously injured but was transported to the hospital as a precaution because she was pregnant, according to Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Mercedes Fortune.

After that initial collision, Perez crossed into oncoming traffic again and crashed his truck into a silver sedan heading southbound. Fortune said that the man in that vehicle, identified as Ronald Cruz, 53, died on the scene.

Perez was transported to an area medical center with non-life-threatening injuries, and EMTs detected signs of impairment en route to the hospital.

Following his release from the hospital, Perez was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of both manslaughter and endangerment. No further details have been released, and police are continuing their investigation at this time.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Ronald Cruz. Our thoughts are with the injured victim and their family in hopes of a full recovery..

Fatal Car Crashes in Arizona

Arizona authorities released a report that showed 130,000 collisions happened across the state in the last year alone. According to data released by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, more than 11,000 of these collisions involved at least two drivers and several injuries or deaths. Furthermore, there has been a 19% increase in accidents and a 25% overall increase in fatalities across the state in the last decade. Serious motor vehicle crashes have also resulted in billions of dollars in economic losses to the state of Arizona over the past several years.

It’s clear that multi-car accidents causing injuries are an unfortunately common part of life in Arizona. When multiple victims are injured in an accident, they may have to deal with other drivers’ insurance companies, long-term physical pain, and expensive hospital bills. Occasionally, as a result of these incidents, victims succumb to their injuries, leaving their grieving families to cope with emotional trauma and financial difficulties as a result of another driver’s negligence.

But the victims and their families affected by these wrecks can seek help from a Phoenix injury attorney. A skilled attorney can help victims seek justice and the fair compensation they deserve from suffering in an accident that occurred through no fault of their own.

At ELG, we do not cut corners and use intake specialists or a non-attorney to talk or meet with you. We guarantee your consultation will be with one of our experienced injury attorneys that only handle accident matters. That means that you and your family can feel confident and assured that we will answer all your questions. Our compassionate Phoenix accident attorneys are here to help you safeguard your legal rights and learn more about filing a claim.

We will gladly review the facts of your case and tailor our advice to match the specific needs of your case. Every consultation is free and there is no obligation to retain us.

ELG’s Arizona car accident attorneys have years of experience when it comes to fighting for victims and their families. If you’ve been involved in a crash caused by the negligent actions of another driver, contact our accident attorneys in Arizona today at (623) 877-3600 to schedule your consultation.