Wrong-Way Injury Collision on State Route 51 and Indian School

Updated on Tuesday, January 7, 2019, at 1:42 p.m.

Eldorado Mukaj has been charged with aggravated DUI, two counts of aggravated assault and four counts of felony endangerment in connection with a wrong-way injury collision November 4, 2019 on State Route 51. Two Tempe Police Department officers were injured in that collision.

Mukaj has extensive injuries and continues to undergo long-term treatment in a hospital. His injuries are so severe that he cannot be booked into jail at this time.

The case has been referred to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

End of update.

On Monday, November 4, 2019 at 1:48 AM, a three-vehicle injury collision involving a wrong-way driver and two Tempe Police Department (TPD) officers, occurred northbound on State Route (SR) 51 at Indian School Road. 

The wrong-way driver, operating a 2018 Chevrolet Corvette, was traveling south in the northbound lanes of SR-51 when he impacted two fully-marked TPD vehicles. A TPD sergeant was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe northbound when the wrong-way driver struck his patrol vehicle head-on. The collision debris then impacted a second TPD vehicle, a Ford Explorer driven by a TPD officer who was traveling behind the TPD sergeant.

The TPD sergeant and officer suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital.

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle, identified as a 27-year-old man from Ohio, was also taken to a nearby hospital where he is being treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

AZDPS detectives are leading the investigating and believe impairment is a factor.

AZDPS will provide updates as they become available.