Initial findings of Tuesday’s SR 347 accident released

The early morning accident Tuesday on SR 347 at Casa Blanca Road that injured three people claimed the life of a Chandler woman.

According to information released Wednesday by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, a vehicle driven by Margaret Phelps, 70, of Chandler was initially stopped westbound shortly after 7 a.m. on Casa Blanca Road at the intersection. Authorities said for some unknown reason, Phelps traveled into the intersection, in the path of a northbound vehicle on SR 347.

The vehicle Phelps was operating was hit on the driver’s side, causing extensive vehicle damage. Phelps, who was wearing her seat belt, sustained severe injuries from which she later died.

“She was determined to be at fault but I do not have the specific statement of fault,” DPS Spokesman Harold Sanders said.

The accident tied up traffic going northbound out of Maricopa, rerouting those cars for a time onto Casa Blanca Road. A Native Air rescue helicopter landed in the northbound lanes to transport one of the victims. Southbound traffic into Maricopa was also backed up for a portion of the morning.

As part of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s current road work on SR 347, a traffic light is to be installed later this year at the intersection with Casa Blanca Road.

Just last month, two individuals were killed in a two-car accident on SR 347 north of Maricopa.

Maricopa residents Jonathan Stuart and Mark Ream died on Aug. 11 when officers say Stuart’s car crossed the median and landed on Ream’s Jeep.

The investigation into that accident is continuing.