Crashes, flooding wreaking havoc on Phoenix freeways, streets
Sep 9, 2013, 12:10 PM | Updated: 5:05 pm
PHOENIX — The wet weather Monday wreaked havoc with Valley traffic in the morning and into the afternoon and a flash flood advisory has been issued for Maricopa and Pinal counties.
A half-inch of rainfall has been recorded at Sky Harbor Airport on the day.
Several accidents, including two water rescues, and road closures have been reported, and about 1,000 Salt River Project customers in the West Valley are without power.
Phoenix police say that by 3 p.m. Monday, officers had handled 164 traffic
hazard calls with at least eight of those involving people stranded in their
cars. There were no reported injuries.
The Arizona Department of Transportation said part of a U.S. 60 underpass in Tempe was flooded and the flooding has closed exit ramps on Interstate 17 at Greenway Road.
A crash involving a truck at the southbound Loop 101 near Warner Road has closed the eastbound ramp to U.S. 60 at Loop 101 north.
Another accident on U.S. 60 west near Rural Road in Tempe was slowing traffic and one driver said McClintock Drive between Guadalupe and Baseline roads also in Tempe “is a small lake, not a road.”
Phoenix Fire spokesman Tony Mure said several people had to rescued from their cars trapped in high water near Bell Road and 27th Avenue.
Associated Press contributed to this article.