Man arrested after deadly crash causes fire, chemical spill on US 60 in Mesa
MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — A man has been arrested after a deadly chain-reaction crash that caused a massive fire and chemical spill on an East Valley freeway on Friday morning.
Brett Quadlin, 39, was booked into jail on felony charges of two counts of manslaughter, three counts of endangerment, aggravated assault and leaving the scene of a fatal collision.
Authorities say four vehicles were involved in the crash around 7:30 a.m., near Country Club Drive and Iron Avenue, just south of the U.S. 60.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, a Hyundai Sonata and a Subaru SUV were stopped at the red light on the Country Club off-ramp at the intersection. Troopers say a white Ford pickup truck, driven by Quadlin, didn’t stop at the red light and rear-ended the Hyundai, pushing that vehicle into the Subaru.
Crews arrived and found the Hyundai and Subaru on fire, and firefighters began an aggressive attack on the flames and smoke.
Quadlin fled the scene, and officers utilized Mesa Police’s real-time watch center to track him. When officers apprehended him, Quadlin had allegedly taken his clothes off and was making religious and political statements, according to court documents.
Troopers say one of the vehicles sideswiped a gray Dodge pickup truck that was also stopped for the red light next to the Hyundai and Subaru.
Pool cleaning supplies from one of the trucks spilled into the intersection.
The two people in the Hyundai, 48-year-old David Ortiz De Jesus and 46-year-old Yesenia Morales De Castillo, died at the scene. The driver of the Subaru was hospitalized with minor injuries.
Investigators said Quadlin was speeding and impaired at the time of the crash and didn’t use his brakes before impact.
He also reportedly admitted to smoking marijuana that morning, troopers said.
His bond was set at $1 million.
Quadlin was previously arrested for two DUIs, trespassing and marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession.
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