Driver charged after accident that left one dead and six injured in traffic jam on I-17 in northern Phoenix

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A man faces multiple charges after authorities say he caused a crash that left one person dead and six seriously injured others on a highway north of Phoenix this weekend.

Michael Gibson, 28, has been charged with manslaughter, assault and endangerment after allegedly causing the crash early Sunday morning on I-17.

According to court documents, police officers stopped a driver who may have been driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver had stopped on northbound I-17 near Northern Avenue around 1 a.m. While police were attempting to get the vehicle off the highway, two different cars, a Hyundai Sonata and a Kia Optima, collided in traffic on the highway. There were no injuries in this minor accident.

The driver and a passenger of the Kia, as well as the driver of the Hyundai, stood outside their vehicles to assess the damage. Then, according to court documents, a black Ford Mustang drove into the back of the Hyundai at high speed, which was then thrown into the Kia and struck all three people who were standing outside the vehicles. Two other people were sitting in the Kia at the time.

The driver of the Hyundai died at the scene of the accident, court documents say. The driver of the Kia suffered life-threatening injuries, and the three passengers suffered minor injuries.

According to court documents, the driver and passenger of the Mustang attempted to flee the scene of the accident, but police were able to arrest the driver as he attempted to climb over the highway’s median barrier. They did not find the passenger, who fled.

Two people who were in the back seat of the Mustang remained at the scene of the accident. One was hospitalized with serious injuries, the other had minor injuries. A passenger reportedly told police the driver was driving recklessly before the crash.

Troopers identified the driver as Gibson, court documents say. Aside from not knowing he was involved in an accident, they said he exhibited several symptoms consistent with impairment, including bloodshot, red, watery eyes, odor of alcohol, inability to stay awake while speaking to troopers, slurred speech and inability to stand upright.

According to the documents, Gibson refused to take a breathalyzer test and denied being the driver of the Mustang. Lab results on a blood and DNA sample from Gibson are pending.

A police officer at the scene reported seeing Gibson exit the Mustang through the driver’s door after the accident, and a passenger in the back seat also identified Gibson as the driver.

Gibson is charged with two counts of manslaughter, one count of assault with intent to injure, and four counts of endangerment.

The northbound lanes of I-17 were partially closed in the early morning hours Sunday, but reopened shortly before 7:30 a.m.

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