Teen driver charged with passenger’s death in Phoenix area freeway wreck
Dec 15, 2014, 2:03 PM | Updated: 2:04 pm
PHOENIX — A teenager has been charged in a fatal East Valley freeway accident.
Authorities said Robert Joseph Lopez, 19, was arrested in the death of Devonna Crouch, 16, who was a passenger in the car that crashed into a median on Interstate 10 East at U.S. 60 early Friday morning.
Lopez, the driver, was charged with suspicion of second-degree murder, aggravated assault and endangerment.
Lopez admitted he had smoked marijuana before the accident. He also was driving without a valid license, officers said.
Crouch was killed when her head hit a bolt on the light
pole that the car struck.
KTAR’s Jim Cross and the Associated Press contributed to this report.