Five dead in two-car head on crash southwest of Tucson

UPDATE (KVOA) — A fiery crash ends with five people losing their lives Monday evening and shutting down Ajo Way in between Camino Verde and Old Ajo highway, southwest of Tucson.

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) says the crash occurred around 5 p.m. Monday on Ajo way and San Joaquin road.

UPDATE (KVOA) — A fiery crash ends with five people losing their lives Monday evening and shutting down Ajo Way in between Camino Verde and Old Ajo highway, southwest of Tucson.

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) says the crash occurred around 5 p.m. Monday on Ajo way and San Joaquin road.

DPS said a two-car head on crash claimed the lives of five people. News 4 Tucson spoke with a man who says he saw the entire crash unfold.

In pictures provided by the witness, Jeff Hankins, flames and smoke are visible coming out of a black car. The witness believes the passengers of the black car were still inside the vehicle when the fire broke out.

Hankins says he was driving west on Ajo way when the driver of a gray car sped past him. Moments later he says he watched the same car crash into a black car on the driver’s side.

“Before I got down there. The people in the black car were making a left hand turn coming off of San Joaquin (road) turning left onto Ajo (way). And boom! they got hit. By the time I got down to the scene got out of the car, couple of other people had gone over to the car and it was already on fire. I had to pull back a couple of people saying ‘they’re gone.'” Hankins said.

DPS has not confirmed any of the information that Hankins says he witnessed. It is not known which driver was at fault and if all the victims were in the same vehicle or not.

As of 11:45 p.m. Monday evening, Ajo way was still closed