One Driver Dead, One Charged With 2nd-Degree Murder In Crash

PHOENIX, AZ —A two-vehicle collision Wednesday morning in Phoenix resulted in the death of one driver, while the other driver was processed for driving under the influence and booked on 2nd-degree murder charges, according to Phoenix police.

CBS 5 reported that court documents show the driver who was charged may have been traveling between 130 mph and 145 mph.

Dion Kelly, 63, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, which occurred at approximately 11 a.m. at the intersection of 37th Avenue and Grand Avenue, authorities said. According to CBS 5, Kelly was a Salt River Project power and water employee who was driving an SRP vehicle.

Richard Anderson, the 20-year-old driver of the other vehicle—reportedly a BMW —was not seriously injured, but he was processed for DUI and booked into jail on 2nd-degree murder charges and two counts of endangerment, police said. Bond was set at $300,000, according to CBS 5.

Each vehicle also had an adult female passenger on board, and both sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.

According to CBS 5, court documents show that officers on traffic enforcement checked their radar unit twice as Anderson's vehicle passed them, and both times it registered 145 mph. The crash reportedly occurred right after Anderson passed the officers.

According to police, Anderson said he knew he was going 130 mph when he crashed because he had just looked at his speedometer.

Court documents also showed that officers found a vape pen in Anderson's pocket, and that Anderson told them he was smoking THC three to four hours before the collision. Police said Anderson showed signs of impairment and an instant urine test showed a positive result for THC, according to CBS 5.

Police said they believe the sedan driven by Anderson was traveling eastbound on Grand Avenue when it collided with the SUV driven by Kelly.