Wrong-Way Collision Claims Lives of Two Men on SR 303 at Bell Road
Updated at 8:00 p.m. by Raul Garcia, Public Information Officer.
Next of kin notification has been completed. The wrong-way driver of the red/maroon Jeep Cherokee SUV was identified as Robert Andrew Cadman age 32, of Phoenix. The driver of the white Toyota Tundra pickup truck was identified as Christopher John Ruiz Jr. age 32, of Phoenix.
First released on 1/10/2016, at 5:45 a.m.
On January 10, 2016, at 1:01 a.m. the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s (ADPS) Dispatch center received a report of a vehicle traveling northbound within the southbound lanes of SR 303 in the area of Waddell Road. At 1:03 a.m. The Dispatch center received a report that the wrong-way vehicle collided head-on with another vehicle.
During the initial portion of the investigation troopers and State detectives determined the head-on collision occurred within traffic lane #1, the far left lane.
The wrong-way vehicle is a maroon sport utility vehicle (SUV) and the victim vehicle is a white pick-up truck.
The two drivers succumbed to their injuries at the scene and there were no other passengers on board in either vehicle. The two drivers are male.
The Department’s Vehicular Crimes Unit (VCU) detectives are conducting the investigation. DUI has not been ruled out on either driver.
Traffic was being routed off at Bell Road and back onto SR 303 at Greenway Road. The roadway was clear and reopened at 7:00 a.m.
“This is another tragic incident resulting in the loss of life,” said DPS Captain Daniel Golden.
DPS reminds you to avoid distractions while operating a vehicle so that if you encounter a hazard you will be able to take evasive action that may save your life.