By Ethan McSweeney

Two accidents in the southbound lanes of State Route 347 in Maricopa led to backups Monday evening as Fourth of July festivities were ongoing at Copper Sky Regional Park and Ak-Chin Village.

The bumper-to-bumper accidents, which occurred around 9 p.m. Monday just north of Bowlin Road, involved a total of six vehicles. No injuries were reported in either of the accidents, said Chip Wright, a spokesman for the Maricopa Fire Department.

In the first crash, one vehicle hit the back of another vehicle shortly before 9 p.m., Wright said.

For the second crash, a vehicle hit the vehicle in front it, pushing it into the next two vehicles a few minutes after 9 p.m.  It appears this four-vehicle accident was caused by the backup from the first crash, Wright said.

Wright said he isn’t sure whether the accidents were caused by drivers watching the fireworks, which were being set off around the time of the accidents at the Ak-Chin celebration and then at Copper Sky.