Suspected DUI driver went wrong way, caused deadly crash in Scottsdale, police say

Police said the driver crashed head-on into another car with three people inside.
Police said the driver crashed head-on into another car with three people inside.(Arizona's Family)
Published: Dec. 30, 2022 at 9:13 PM MST
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — A driver under the influence is responsible for a reported wrong-way crash that left one woman dead in Scottsdale on Friday, police said. It happened near Hayden and Cactus roads around 7 p.m. Joshua Grabek, 48, was driving and reportedly went into oncoming traffic and slammed into another car with a 58-year-old woman, her 60-year-old husband, and their rideshare driver, 56-year-old Girard Grassi Jr., inside. Police say the couple was on their way to a friend’s house for a get-together.

The woman was taken to the hospital, where she later died, while her husband and Grassi have serious injuries, police said. Gradek had minor injuries and was taken to the hospital as a precaution. He was later arrested and is charged with manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault, aggravated DUI- driving the wrong way, and endangerment.

The names of the couple haven’t been released. It’s unclear what caused Grabek to go the wrong way. An investigation is underway.