# @downinnadesert on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DbeNwGbEjc1
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68548197-downinnadesert-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/2cdc432328.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-31T21:19:43.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Down In The Desert🌵 (@downinnadesert) — https://gondola.cc/downinnadesert

## Caption

Eighty three Arizona drivers have been cited in the last three months for one thing. Filming a fatal crash as they drove past it.

On July 26, troopers were working a fatal wreck that had I-10 blocked outside Willcox. While they investigated, they watched traffic back up and counted repeated near misses from people stopping or slowing to record. Waiting on the tow truck, they started enforcing. Sixteen citations under the hands-free statute, plus one driver arrested for DUI.

That followed May 13 near Craycroft in Tucson, when a truck hauling cars blew a tire on I-10. The driver swerved into the median to keep from hitting anyone else. His truck flipped, caught fire, and he died. As people slowed to film the burning truck, troopers wrote 67 citations. DPS called it a Phones Down Detail and says more are coming.

DPS spokesperson Bart Graves did not soften it, saying people stop, block traffic and take video, and calling it outrageous, wrong and illegal. Sgt. Kameron Lee put the other question on the table, asking where the humanity is in filming a fatal crash as you drive by it. Somebody died there.

The law itself is simple. In Arizona you cannot hold, rest or manipulate a phone while you’re driving. First offense is $75 to $149 and climbs from there. DPS also says the rule applies near an active crash scene even if you’ve pulled over, so that’s their read on it.

The real reason though isn’t the ticket. Troopers say secondary crashes, the ones that happen in the backup caused by the first crash, frequently turn out worse than the original.

Somebody’s family is standing on that highway. Keep driving.

Via: FOX 10 Phoenix, AZFamily, 12 News

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#Arizona #AZNews #I10 #DriveSafe #DownInnaDesert

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## Tags

downinnadesert, aznews, drivesafe, arizona, i10

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