A Maricopa woman died Monday night after a wrong-way driver collided with her vehicle on State Route 347 near Riggs Road, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

A vehicle driven by Julissa Torres, 26, was struck head-on by a motorist traveling northbound in the southbound lane at approximately 8:22 p.m. on May 14. The local woman was pronounced dead on-scene.

The driver of the alleged at-fault vehicle, 70-year-old Karen Ankiewicz of Sun City West, was also deceased when emergency crews arrived, DPS said.

Investigators do not know if impairment or a medical issue were factors. DPS said the investigation is on-going.

A 26-year-old man and a 4-year-old child inside Torres’ red 2010 Chrysler 300 were admitted to the hospital with non-life threatening-injuries. A 1-year-old child in the same vehicle was evaluated and released, according to DPS.

The wrong-way fatal collision caused a third accident involving a white 2002 Pontiac sedan. DPS said a 57-year-old male driver struck Torres’ vehicle after the initial collision. That driver and a 13-year-old passenger were admitted to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 15-year-old passenger was treated and released, DPS said.

The southbound lanes re-opened shortly before 4 a.m., May 15.

 

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