PHOENIX — A woman died Tuesday morning after her vehicle was involved in a north Phoenix collision.
The two-vehicle wreck occurred near 43rd Avenue and Bell Road, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
One of the drivers, identified as 72-year-old Deborah Connel, was taken to the hospital and later succumbed to her injuries, police said.
The other driver remained at the scene and did not show signs of impairment.
The crash may have interrupted traffic along the eastbound lanes of Bell Road as police investigated the fatal collision.
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Deaths on Arizona roads
Data from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows that roadway fatalities have been gradually rising in Arizona over the last decade:
- 2011: 825 deaths
- 2012: 821 deaths
- 2013: 844 deaths
- 2014: 774 deaths
- 2015: 895 deaths
- 2016: 952 deaths
- 2017: 1,000 deaths
- 2018: 1,010 deaths
- 2019: 982 deaths
- 2020: 1,057 deaths
ADOT offers driving tips on its website to help keep people safe on the road.
"There’s always room for improvement when it comes to road safety," the department said on its website.
ADOT's suggestions include:
- Don’t speed or drive aggressively
- Never drive while under the influence of substances
- Avoid distractions while driving
- Wear your seatbelt and make sure all passengers are doing the same
- When an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road, move over
- Stay extra aware in work zones
- Be prepared for weather conditions that make driving dangerous
