Man arrested after accident that killed three Mesa residents

INDEPENDENT NEWS MEDIA

A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the head-on collision on State Route 87 near Fountain Hills over Memorial Day weekend that left three Mesa residents dead.

Jose Serrano-Orduno is accused of premeditated murder, aggravated assault and endangerment, authorities said.

The collision occurred Sunday morning, May 26, on SR 87, also known as Beeline Highway, about a mile south of Shea Boulevard.

Witnesses in a third vehicle reported to Arizona Department of Public Safety officers that their vehicle had to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid the wrong-way driver in a Chevy Avalanche. They looked back and noticed that the headlights of another vehicle, a Ford F-150, had disappeared after the Avalanche passed.

Serrano-Orduno suffered serious injuries in the collision and remained hospitalized. He was arrested and hospitalized after his release, according to DPS officials, who said impairment is suspected in the crash.

The driver of the Ford F-150 hit by the avalanche also suffered serious injuries.

Three passengers in the F-150 – Victor Perez Coralles, 25, Emilia Rodriquez, 42, and Jesus Guadalupe Nunez-Rodriquez, 26, all of Mesa – died at the scene.

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