BENSON, AZ — A trooper was seriously injured Monday morning in a crash on Interstate 10 near Benson, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The collision involved a commercial vehicle and happened on eastbound I-10 near milepost 302 at about 9:40 a.m. on Sept. 28.
AZDPS said the trooper was taken to a hospital for treatment. The driver of the commercial vehicle was not injured. Traffic impacts continued after the crash as crews worked to reopen the roadway.
Crash happened near milepost 302 on eastbound I-10
The wreck took place on a stretch of eastbound Interstate 10 near Benson, a route that carries heavy traffic through southeastern Arizona. The crash site was identified as being close to milepost 302, giving motorists a specific point to watch for delays and lane restrictions.
According to the Department of Public Safety, the collision occurred shortly before 10 a.m. on Monday. The agency did not immediately say what led to the crash or describe the sequence of events before the impact.
Commercial vehicles can create wider safety and traffic concerns when they are involved in highway collisions, especially on major interstates where speeds are high and lanes are limited. In this case, the injury to a trooper made the response especially serious.
Trooper taken to hospital after serious injuries
AZDPS said the trooper was seriously hurt and transported to a hospital for treatment. No further details were provided about the trooper’s condition, and the agency did not release the trooper’s name.
The department also did not say whether the trooper was on duty at the time of the crash or what role the trooper had at the scene. What is clear from the initial account is that emergency responders treated the injury as severe enough to require hospital care.
The commercial vehicle driver was not injured, according to AZDPS. That distinction means the crash left one person in need of medical treatment while the other involved driver did not require hospital care.
Lane closures slowed traffic for several hours
The eastbound left lane reopened after being shut down for several hours, but the eastbound right lane remained closed. AZDPS did not give an estimated time for when that lane would reopen.
That left motorists dealing with an active traffic disruption on a major interstate corridor. With only part of the eastbound side available, drivers were likely forced to slow down and merge as they passed the crash area near Benson.
Officials did not say how long the closure would continue or whether additional cleanup or investigation work was still underway. The lane restriction was the main visible effect for travelers after the initial emergency response.
ADOT travel information offered for drivers checking conditions
Arizona Department of Transportation officials direct drivers to the Arizona Traveler Information site for real-time highway conditions. That resource can help motorists check for closures, delays and rerouting needs before heading toward the affected stretch of I-10.
For travelers moving through southern Arizona, the update is especially useful when one side of the freeway remains restricted and no reopening time has been posted. It gives drivers a way to avoid being caught in a backup at the crash scene.
Highway information services become particularly important after serious incidents involving injury and commercial vehicles, when lane status can change as investigators and cleanup crews work. In this case, the ongoing closure showed that the crash continued to affect travel even after the injured trooper was taken for treatment.
What AZDPS has and has not said so far
The Department of Public Safety has confirmed the time, location and basic outcome of the crash, but many details remain unknown. Officials have not said what caused the collision, whether other vehicles were involved, or how long the remaining lane closure is expected to last.
AZDPS also has not released any information about citations, whether the commercial vehicle was loaded, or whether the crash investigation could lead to any enforcement action. For now, the agency’s account focuses on the injuries, the type of vehicle involved and the traffic disruption near Benson.
As of the latest update, the eastbound right lane was still closed, and no reopening estimate had been provided. Drivers in the area were left to rely on travel updates while the investigation and roadway work continued.
