Vehicular Crimes Detectives Arrest Suspect in Fatal Collision on US 60 near Higley Road

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A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Source material from Arizona Department of Public Safety. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

MESA, Ariz. — On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at approximately 1:01 a.m., the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) responded to a three-vehicle fatal collision on eastbound US 60 near milepost 187 (Higley Road).

The preliminary investigation indicates a vehicle experienced a flat tire, and the driver stopped on the right emergency shoulder. Family members responded to the location to assist the driver with changing the tire. After completing the tire change, the family was preparing to leave when an eastbound vehicle struck the two vehicles stopped on the shoulder.

One person was killed, and two others sustained critical and serious injuries and were transported to a hospital.

The driver who collided with the stopped vehicles, 21-year-old Zachary Robert Penrod of Queen Creek, Arizona, showed signs of impairment.

Penrod was booked into the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Jail on one count of manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of endangerment.

The AZDPS Vehicular Crimes Unit is investigating this collision.

Release text attributed to Arizona Department of Public Safety. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.