I-8 Westbound Lanes Close Near Fortuna Road Following Early Morning Crash

A blown tire on a semi-truck set off a three-vehicle pileup on westbound Interstate 8 near milepost 13, just east of Fortuna Road in the Foothills, shutting down the highway for more than three hours during the Friday morning commute and sending at least two people to the hospital.

The Arizona Department of Transportation announced the full westbound closure at 7:23 a.m. A state trooper on scene told KYMA that the semi's tire blowout caused the crash. The Arizona Department of Public Safety later confirmed the collision involved three vehicles: a semi, a pickup truck, and an SUV. Eastbound lanes remained open throughout the incident.

Injuries were reported as non-life-threatening, with at least two people transported to the hospital. No names or ages of those injured were released.

AZDOT provided a series of time-stamped updates as crews worked the scene. At 9:03 a.m., the left lane reopened. By 10:30 a.m., the department confirmed all lanes were back open. AZDPS released additional crash details in an update at 11:19 a.m., after the roadway had already cleared.

During the closure, AZDOT directed drivers to check current conditions through AZ511, available via the state's website and mobile app. Motorists were urged to use alternate routes while the scene was active.

The exact calendar date of the crash carries a minor discrepancy between sources: KYMA referenced AZ511 placing the incident before 8:00 a.m. on a Wednesday, while Country Herald's reporting cited 7:23 a.m. on a Friday. AZDOT's lane-status timestamps remain the authoritative record for the traffic chronology regardless of the day-of-week question.

No citations, charges, or arrests were reported in connection with the crash. The trooper's assessment of the blown tire as the cause remains a preliminary, on-scene finding pending any official investigative report from AZDPS.