Javayah Shecole Burkett dies in fatal Phoenix wrong-way crash

Javayah Shecole Burkett dies in fatal Phoenix wrong-way crash

Fatal Phoenix wrong-way crash death of Javayah Shecole Burkett – Obituary

Javayah Shecole Burkett, an 18-year-old woman from Glendale, tragically lost her life in a wrong-way collision on Interstate 17 in central Phoenix early Wednesday morning.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety reported that Burkett was driving southbound on the northbound lanes of I-17 near 7th Avenue at approximately 3:20 a.m. when her sedan collided head-on with a pickup truck driven by a 53-year-old man from Tolleson. Burkett died at the scene, while the pickup driver was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries.

Authorities have not yet determined why Burkett was traveling the wrong way on the freeway. At the time of the crash, the pickup driver was on his way to work.

The accident led to the closure of southbound lanes on I-17 at 7th Avenue, with traffic rerouted at the Durango Street exit. This caused significant traffic congestion stretching onto I-10, affecting many commuters during the morning hours.

The incident remains under investigation by Arizona law enforcement officials.