The Arizona Department of Public Safety says street racing was likely to be a factor in the deadly crash on State Route 51 in North Phoenix on Tuesday night.
According to troopers, witnesses reported seeing two cars racing in the northbound lanes when one vehicle crashed near the Shea overpass around 8 p.m.
Authorities say 18-year-old Buckeye resident Felix Cardoza was driving an Audi when he veered off the right side of the road and collided with a concrete retaining wall. The collision caused the vehicle to roll over onto its roof.
The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.
DPS spokesman Raul Garcia said after slamming into the wall, the car rolled back onto the street. When it eventually stopped, it was blocking the HOV lane and the adjacent lane under the Shea Boulevard overpass.
Video showed that the Audi was almost unrecognizable after the accident. Its engine ended up in one of the lanes next to it.
Meanwhile, troopers located the driver and passenger in the second vehicle. However, investigators have not revealed their names and it is unclear if they will be facing charges.
Following the accident, State Route 51 northbound was closed at Shea and all traffic had to exit at Shea.
Last month, Phoenix police said they would be cracking down on street racing and drifting which appeared to be getting out of hand.
Sgt. Mercedes Fortune said not only were police receiving noise complaints, but racers and drifters were threatening the safety of people inside and outside of their vehicles.
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