Junk on Arizona roads leads to hundreds of crashes every year

PHOENIX (AZFamily)—We’ve all seen random junk on the freeways and city streets, and we’ve also likely seen vehicles piled high with stuff that looks like it will fall onto the road.

These dangerous drivers cause hundreds of crashes every year in Arizona, at times even causing death.

Arizona’s Family Investigates looked into the issue and found it’s worsening. Road debris accounts for about a third of crashes that state troopers respond to. That’s despite public campaigns with slogans like “Don’t Trash Arizona” and “Secure Your Loads.”

Paul Reif said he thinks about his son and what happened every single day. A photo is all he has left.

“He was the type of kid that every parent would want,” Reif said.

Matthew died after a piece of sheet metal came flying up off the road through his windshield. 18 years later, Paul still gets choked up talking about it.

“I don’t want anyone else to be in my shoes. Not ever,” Reif said.

Yet junk keeps ending up on our freeways.

Detective Nick Cureton knows that firsthand.

“It happened so quickly I didn’t have a lot of time to react,” Mesa Police Det. Cureton said.

The longtime Mesa Police Officer walked us through his close encounter with a roof rack in 2022.

“As the vehicle in front of me came into contact with it basically went right through my windshield and ended up hitting me in the chest as it went through,” Det. Cureton explained.

He somehow managed to pull over and radio for help. He said two other drivers also stopped to assist.

“I instantly recognized I had glass in my eyes. I had glass in my mouth,” Det. Cureton said. “I was in the hospital for a little bit but luckily I was able to go home that same day,” he continued.

Stories like these are why the Arizona Department of Public Safety considers stuff on our roads an emergency. Arizona’s Family Investigates rode along with them to better understand the problem.

“We don’t want anyone to get hurt,” Sgt. Eric Andrews with DPS said. “I had no idea how much you see on a daily basis.”

It didn’t take long to spot something concerning.

“We’ve got a ton of debris here. We’ve got all this wood in the road... Those big pieces they’ll pop your tire real easily, who knows if there’s nails in them,” Sgt. Andrews explained.

According to DPS, in 2022, debris on state roads led to 1,100 crashes and nine deaths. Between 2019 and 2023, these incidents made up 32% of all crashes in Arizona, but a whopping 68% in Maricopa and Pinal counties.

“We do not ask that civilians stop and try to take it out of the road themselves. You’re putting yourself at risk,” Sgt. Andrews said.

He also pointed out what those who use hauling loads should be doing.

“Using a ratchet is the best way,” he said.

The Arizona Department of Transportation also responds to some of these calls and works to raise awareness.

They showed Arizona’s Family Investigates the bin they collect some of the junk they’ve collected. It had a ton of stuff in just three to four days.

“As I’ve often said it’s everything, including the kitchen sink,” Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) spokesperson Doug Nintzel said.

In Arizona, the law states that you must secure your load. If not, authorities can charge you with a class 2 misdemeanor and fine you up to $500 if someone is seriously injured.

Sgt. Andrews said he didn’t believe stiff penalties would make a difference. “Honestly because they usually don’t stick around it probably, it would be hard for us to find them,” he explained.

He estimates drives only stick around about 5% of the time.

Reif agrees law enforcement isn’t the answer. He said it’s “common sense.”

“Secure your load as if someone you love was driving behind you,” Reif stressed.

During this latest legislative session, lawmakers amended the existing law on securing your load to include “streets” and “roads.” It means drivers can be charged and fined for violations on all types of roads, not just highways.

June 6th is National Secure Your Load Day, honoring the day Reif’s son died. He plans to speak at the event ADOT and DPS are hosting in Phoenix on that day.

DPS said if you see trash and junk on the road, call 911.

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