GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY, Ariz. -- One person was killed and seven more, four of them young children, were hurt in an early morning rollover on Interstate 10 just past Queen Creek Road.
It happened shortly after 5 a.m. in the westbound lanes of I-10 between Queen Creek Road and Wild Horse Pass, heading into Phoenix.
According to Officer Robert Bailey with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the driver of a gray 1993 Chevrolet Suburban veered off the roadway to the right and lost control. The vehicle rolled several times, coming to rest upside down.
The driver, Norma Chavarria, 33, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband, Samuel Chavarria Sr., 30, was trapped underneath the Suburban and freed by emergency workers. Samuel's 15-year-old sister, Danyeli Chavarria, suffered significant facial trauma.
Samuel and Danyeli's father, Samuel Ezequiel Chavarria, 71, was initially trapped in the front passenger seat. Good Samaritans reportedly cut him out.
Norma and Samuel's four children were injured in the crash. Jonathan Chavarria, 6, and Sherly Chavarria, 4, were ejected from the vehicle and found some distance from the wreckage. Samuel Chavarria Jr., 8, was trapped underneath the vehicle and freed by emergency personnel. They were flown to area hospitals.
Erick Chavarria, 20 months, was found walking around inside the Suburban.
Bailey said all the victims suffered serious, but non life-threatening injuries. Sherly was flown to Phoenix Children's Hospital and is listed in critical condition. The other victims were taken to Maricopa County Medical Center.
According to Bailey, only the mother and grandfather were wearing seat belts. The rest were unrestrained.
The victims are from Los Angeles. Bailey said they were returning from visiting family in Mexico.
Investigators believe fatigue may have caused the crash.
The roadway was shut down completely while emergency crews worked with the patients. One lane was later opened to allow traffic past the scene. DPS fully opened that stretch of freeway to traffic shortly before 9 a.m.
