PEORIA, Ariz. — A man is dead and several others are hurt following a wrong way crash in the northbound lanes of State Route 101 in Peoria, a spokesman with the Department of Public Safety said.
Around 3:44 a.m., DPS started to get calls of a Chevy Silverado driving south in the northbound lanes.
Roughly two minutes later, the department got the call that the truck had crashed into a large tour bus between Thunderbird and Bell roads, DPS said.
The man driving the pickup truck, identified as Felix Perez, 27, of Jurupa Valley, California, was reportedly taken to the hospital with serious injuries, and later died.
The bus was occupied by Piano Men: Generations, an Elton John and Billy Joel tribute band.
“This crescendo of noise. There was a crash and then black, I blacked out," Terry Davies said.
Terry Davies said the group was traveling back home after touring for three days in California.
All seven people on board had injuries ranging in severity, including a guitarist who was ejected from the bus.
"He went through the windshield," Nick Davies said.
Terry Davies added "We thought we'd lost him. We couldn't find him anywhere."
The guitarist is recovering in the hospital.
The Davies said the bus took most of the impact but they're grateful for the driver's quick thinking and previous safety conversations.
"We just went over it three days ago," Terry Davies said. "It probably saved lives."
Upcoming gigs might be postponed due their bus, trailer and all their equipment being destroyed in the crash.
"We couldn’t believe we escaped that. The bus was a mess," Terry Davies said.
The band is focusing on making a full recovery before worrying about getting back on the road.
The investigation is still underway, and DPS believe that impairment played a part in the crash.
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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
"Real-time highway conditions are available on ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, by calling 511, downloading the AZ 511 app and through ADOT’s Twitter feed, @ArizonaDOT," the department said.