PHOENIX — A DPS trooper is in the hospital after crashing his vehicle into a wrong-way driver on Loop 101, officials said.
Around 4:35 a.m., DPS troopers were notified of a wrong-way driver traveling eastbound on the westbound lanes of I-10 near Broadway Road in Tempe.
Authorities said the driver went from I-10 to Baseline Road, then from US-60 onto Loop 101, going the wrong way the whole time.
Troopers were able to locate the vehicle, a red Cadillac Sedan, near milepost 56 between Guadalupe and Baseline roads.
The trooper deliberately crashed his vehicle into the wrong-way driver in order to stop them. Both the trooper and the driver were hospitalized with minor injuries, police said.
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According to DPS, the 22-year-old wrong-way driver was likely impaired. The wrong-way driver was identified as Isaias Luis Llanos. He has reportedly been booked into MSCO's jail for DUI, aggravated DUI-wrong way driving, DUI drugs, aggravated assault and endangerment.
During the incident, Llanos allegedly passed and nearly hit seven vehicles while traveling the wrong way, according to court documents. Court docs also revealed that Llanos was reportedly at a house party and was driving because his friends wouldn't let him stay at the house and he refused to let them drive him home.
Police are currently investigating the crash, and details are subject to change.
This is a developing story. Stay with 12News for more updates.
Wrong-way crash on Loop 101
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