Phoenix police arrest 18-year-old driver after alleged red-light crash kills 75-year-old in midtown

Deadly collision reported near 3rd Avenue and Indian School Road

Phoenix police arrested an 18-year-old woman following a fatal traffic collision in central Phoenix that investigators believe involved speeding and a red-light violation. The crash happened Friday, March 7, 2026, near the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Indian School Road, a major midtown corridor that carries heavy daily traffic.

Police said officers were dispatched just after 1:30 p.m. and found a 75-year-old driver, identified as John Stephen Conway, with serious injuries. Conway was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

What investigators say happened

Authorities identified the arrested driver as Selene Alexandra Garcia Telix, 18. Investigators said they believe Telix was speeding when she entered the intersection against a red light and collided with Conway’s vehicle. Police stated they do not believe impairment was a factor in the crash.

Telix was taken to a hospital with injuries described as less serious than the other driver’s. After being released from medical care, she was booked into jail and is facing multiple felony charges connected to the collision. Police said the investigation remains ongoing, indicating that final determinations on contributing factors may depend on additional evidence and reconstruction findings.

Criminal process and what comes next

In Arizona, felony traffic cases typically move through an early sequence that can include an initial appearance, charging decisions by prosecutors, and subsequent hearings where release conditions, evidence, and trial scheduling are addressed. The announced arrest and booking establish the beginning of that process, but do not resolve questions of legal responsibility, which must be decided through court proceedings.

• Crash location: near 3rd Avenue and Indian School Road, central Phoenix.

• Time reported: shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2026.

• Police assessment so far: suspected speeding and red-light violation; impairment not believed to be a factor.

• Status: driver arrested and booked; multiple felony charges reported; investigation ongoing.

Public safety context

The crash underscores persistent safety concerns around signalized intersections, where violations and speed can sharply reduce reaction time and increase the severity of impacts. While investigators have provided a preliminary description of what they believe occurred, authorities have not released additional technical details such as estimated speeds, vehicle positions, or whether camera footage or witness statements informed the initial determination.

Phoenix police said the case remains under investigation and that the driver is facing multiple felony charges related to the collision.

No additional victim details were released beyond Conway’s age and identity. Police have not announced a timeline for completing the investigation or for the next scheduled court proceedings.