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Sudden downpour causes 69 car crashes on Ariz. interstate

USA TODAY -- PHOENIX (AP) — A surprise downpour sparked collisions involving 69 vehicles on an interstate near Phoenix's downtown area Saturday evening, closing the westbound roadway for hours and sending seven people to hospitals.
The crashes — described by authorities as the most in a single Phoenix area in recent memory — began about 6:30 p.m. with many drivers going too fast or not leaving enough distance between cars for the slippery conditions, Department of Public Safety spokesman Bob Bailey said.

"The storm hit hard, hit fast, and caught a lot of drivers by surprise," he said. "The collisions began in the far right side of the roadway near the 7th Street exit ramp and this thing kind of perpetuated itself, enveloping the whole roadway."

None of the injuries was life threatening and most

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Submitted Aug 29, 2010 By: creeklin

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DrCashFlow Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,775 Points:1,168,555 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 30, 2010 9:12:04 PM Ignore DrCashFlow Report Abuse they all tried to hide under the same bridge...
Martinman Champion Author Mississippi Posts:11,756 Points:1,658,215 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 30, 2010 6:07:50 AM Ignore Martinman Report Abuse Bogus excuse. It's summer in the desert southwest, which is known for it's monsoon-like rains in August, and flash-flooding from thunderstorm down-bursts throughout most of the summer. Looks like Phoenix officials reaching for another "reason" to increase photo-radar ticketing.
vandamme Champion Author New York Posts:1,018 Points:117,800 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 30, 2010 6:03:01 AM Ignore vandamme Report Abuse I'd love to see those idiots in a snow storm.
dacofa Champion Author Nevada Posts:3,211 Points:693,485 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Aug 30, 2010 12:30:50 AM Ignore dacofa Report Abuse Send them to Seattle for a few months in the winter to learn driving in the rain
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:4,706 Points:980,350 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 11:18:49 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse I'd expect something like this in California (and it does happen). This is monsoon season in Arizona and New Mexico, so the drivers would be expected to know about sudden down pours this time of year. This one must have been really bad.
OnTheWater Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,123 Points:622,380 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 11:09:04 PM Ignore OnTheWater Report Abuse Wow that sucks. Although it's not unusual for this time of year it's the Monsoon season!!!
outlaw329 Champion Author Austin Posts:5,279 Points:931,320 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 11:04:05 PM Ignore outlaw329 Report Abuse Now who cannot drive in rain. Maybe some of the border jumpers they are trying to get rid of there? My 17 year old daughter can drive in the rain and she is blonde for heavens sake!
DougKramer Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,265 Points:420,885 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 10:29:25 PM Ignore DougKramer Report Abuse Ouch! I used to live and drive in Phoenix, AZ. I was warned about various unusual things that could happen there while driving. But don't worry, it's a wonderful economical place to live if you don't like the snow or ice. And they've got nuclear power there … yea!
Jeeputtputt Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,388 Points:341,520 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 10:20:13 PM Ignore Jeeputtputt Report Abuse just another way of saving your gas money, have it towed
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:5,619 Points:1,114,250 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 10:16:12 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse while tragic, this does not affect the price of oil or gas
101Speedster Champion Author Ventura Posts:25,587 Points:2,326,965 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 10:12:48 PM Ignore 101Speedster Report Abuse The ILLEGAL aliens have something to do with this. Send them back!
Jeannemarie Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:26,922 Points:1,944,585 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 10:11:56 PM Ignore Jeannemarie Report Abuse Sounds like here. We get so little rain that when a few drops fall all the idiots run into one another. We get those same coconuts driving around here. If they would drive correctly and not tailgate etc. when it is dry they would have less trouble when it is wet. The streets get terribly slippery here. I put on my brakes one time about 200 feet behind another vehicle in a sudden downpour and planed the distance right up to the guys back bumper and just stopped as I touched him. He got out and said that was a good one which it was. I did not have ABS which are best in those conditions. No damage to either of us - sort of a bumper kiss you might say. Still - it made me even more wary in the rain. I am wary in the dry as well as we have so many car dodgers and darters and tailgaters. Everyone needs to leave 5 minutes sooner and that would be avoided.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:4,909 Points:1,277,505 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 10:08:09 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse Driving to fast for conditions and not having enough room to stop are a large contributor to accidents.
N5EXY Champion Author Austin Posts:3,195 Points:1,045,780 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 10:04:54 PM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse I've been rear-ended twice in one year by idiots. Good to know Texas does not have them all. I'll probably get a Christmas card - or even a gift - from the body shop people.
Geo4564 Champion Author Nevada Posts:3,299 Points:1,101,945 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 10:02:43 PM Ignore Geo4564 Report Abuse If my wife was driving then, it would have been 70 crashes.
Rt118E Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:6,709 Points:905,660 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 10:00:10 PM Ignore Rt118E Report Abuse Like Bezalel says; it doesn't take much water to make the tires ride on it not the road!
Scotty99QC Veteran Author Montreal Posts:275 Points:74,950 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 9:58:02 PM Ignore Scotty99QC Report Abuse I keep getting annoyed at drivers to close , i did stop driving close myself for 2 to 3 yrs , so please try harder.
Bezalel Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:9,763 Points:1,827,830 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 9:55:58 PM Ignore Bezalel Report Abuse Lots of crashes here when it rains. They drive as if the roads are dry. Having a brain makes you a safer driver.
RogerB Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:15,237 Points:2,163,045 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 9:54:17 PM Ignore RogerB Report Abuse Be careful when there is a sudden downpour. Slow down and then you're less likely to have an accident. Also make sure that your tires are in good condition. If the tread is too worn, replace the tires.
REKEY Champion Author South Carolina Posts:6,206 Points:1,233,480 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 9:45:42 PM Ignore REKEY Report Abuse Guess it never rains in Phoenix, Arizona!
northeast2 Champion Author New York Posts:2,666 Points:751,055 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 9:42:44 PM Ignore northeast2 Report Abuse "...with many drivers going too fast or not leaving enough distance between cars for the slippery conditions, Department of Public Safety spokesman Bob Bailey said." Good. Issue some citations for tailgating.
IamWhoIam Champion Author San Francisco Posts:13,960 Points:1,459,700 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 9:38:25 PM Ignore IamWhoIam Report Abuse The oil on the concrete and asphalt street builds up in places where there is little rain so when the rains come the drivers have forgotten how to drive in it. Happens every year. Fortunately we get a nice amount of rain here in SF. It is also cool - now 51 degrees so if you are warm come by.
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:6,309 Points:1,017,395 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 9:32:54 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse The one problem with concrete is the wear factor. I came up a ramp recently, and hit the brakes. The tires skidded on the slick parts of the worn concrete and nearly rear-ended the car ahead of me. The ABS (anti-lock) brakes extended the skid and I swerved to the right of the car ahead. I ended up almost even with the other car. And this was in dry conditions. Add a little water and concrete is almost like ice. [Edited by: granitestater at 8/30/2010 12:33:29 AM EST]
alterman156 Champion Author New York Posts:5,085 Points:1,090,000 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 8:21:29 PM Ignore alterman156 Report Abuse Be careful when there is a sudden downpour. Slow down and then you're less likely to have an accident. Also make sure that your tires are in good condition. If the tread is too worn, replace the tires.
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,260 Points:1,332,750 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 7:43:56 PM Ignore Night Owl Report Abuse Why do people insist on driving too fast and following too closely in bad weather (and even good weather)?
SBlouch Champion Author San Antonio Posts:6,891 Points:1,471,855 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 12:55:27 PM Ignore SBlouch Report Abuse San Antonio news always say the same thing when we get rain no matter how sudden or light the rain may be. The roads have oil on them and when there isn't rain for a long time, the roads get very slippery. But is the drivers who drive too fast, too close, and do not drive according to the road conditions. Thus they can not stop in time to avoid the accidents. People just keep driving the same regardless to the road conditions.
realtorguzzler Champion Author Florida Posts:1,488 Points:259,210 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 9:07:47 AM Ignore realtorguzzler Report Abuse For heavens sake, if it's not life and death, go slow and check your tires. Make sure you got good tires and pressure. They're sometimes a problem.
playtimeCLE Champion Author Cleveland Posts:5,900 Points:1,091,400 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 8:47:20 AM Ignore playtimeCLE Report Abuse Its still rush hour traffic at that time, add a surprise storm & I'm not really shocked, except that its usually fog that causes pile ups like that.
gs7101 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:3,198 Points:245,030 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 7:34:30 AM Ignore gs7101 Report Abuse Those people are not accustom to driving on wet roads; that's pretty obvious. The number of crashes normally increase when it rains in that part of the country -- please drive cautiously on wet roads.
BMW2014 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,794 Points:364,300 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 6:54:48 AM Ignore BMW2014 Report Abuse Please slow down. Why rush?
djdon917 All-Star Author New Jersey Posts:740 Points:50,500 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 6:38:09 AM Ignore djdon917 Report Abuse they should slow down when you see downpoors coming but I guess They wanted to see how fast they can go in rain i know The deal here in New Jersey Drivers Love to go FAST in rain and fog and snow till its to late
VDubBill Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:2,692 Points:870,740 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 29, 2010 6:31:24 AM Ignore VDubBill Report Abuse Cell phone use must have dropped for fifteen seconds until everyone called 9-1-1. Downpours here in Florida mean you turn off your lights and increase your speed by ten mph.