19-Year-Old Ashley Vailes Killed in Phoenix Car Crash near 35th Avenue and Thunderbird Road

Driver Killed in Crash Involving Phoenix Officer near 35th Ave and Thunderbird Rd

Phoenix, Arizona: 19-year-old Ashley Vailes died in a car collision involving a Phoenix police officer Thursday morning, authorities said.

The collision occurred just before 9 a.m. near 35th Avenue and Thunderbird Road.

A police officer was driving a vehicle with a prisoner as a passenger going westbound on Thunderbird when the officer attempted to turn south onto 35th and collided with a vehicle driven by Vailes.

Vailes’ car was traveling eastbound on Thunderbird at the time of the collision. The vehicle crashed into a light pole and then a power box after the first impact, then caught fire.

Firefighters responded and extinguished the fire.

Vailes was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Vailes failed to stop at a red light just before the accident.

The officer involved and the prisoner were hospitalized as a precaution.

The collision is under investigation.