Several people were injured when an out-of-control cattle hauler crashed into nearly two dozen vehicles in Black Canyon City, Arizona. It happened on Sunday, around 1:30 p.m. on Interstate 17 near mile marker 246.
Moments before the incident occurred, traffic had slowed due to an earlier motorcycle crash in the area. When a commercial cattle vehicle came upon the slowed traffic, the driver was unable to stop in time and crashed into the cars ahead.
The tractor trailer rear-ended and side-swiped 23 passenger vehicles.
Arizona police are investigating why the hauler was unable to stop.
Multiple vehicles rear-ended by the cattle hauler. Troopers are working to determine why the truck did not stop; #17 at milepost 246. pic.twitter.com/Y9fGeudyBP
— Dept. Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) October 23, 2016
One witness said, “We don’t know if he lost his brakes but a big rig was going way, way too fast, and he hit the first car over there.”
Arizona Department of Public Safety Raul Garcia stated that several cars were significantly damaged and forced off the highway.
ABC 15 reported that 17 people were injured in the pileup. Four people were flown to hospitals by helicopter with serious injuries. It was not clear if the truck driver was among those injured. The 80 cattle inside the trailer were not injured.
The truck belonged to Arizona-based Verde Livestock Transportation. Reporters’ calls to the company went straight to voicemail. They have not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
The southbound lanes at Sunset Point were shut down after the crash and traffic was re-routed.
I-17 SB is CLOSED at Sunset Point. Traffic is being turned around there. There are very long delays on I-17. Please use an alternate route.
— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) October 23, 2016
The interstate reopened at Highway 69 around 10 p.m., but traffic took significant time to clear.