Video: Arizona Officer Killed in Wrong-Way Driver Collision
A driver who traveled more than 35 miles on the wrong side of a divided highway crashed into a Mesa, Ariz., police officer on Interstate 10 early this morning. Both drivers were killed.
Photo: Mesa Police Department
A Mesa, Arizona, police officer traveling home from his shift, was killed this morning after being struck by a wrong-way driver.
DPS spokesman Carrick Cook told Police Magazine this morning that the suspect was driving the wrong way on the westbound ramp to US 60 in Tempe when he crashed into the officer's vehicle on Monday morning.
Cook said 911 calls began coming into the agency's dispatch center at about 12:30 a.m., reporting a wrong-way driver on a north Phoenix freeway. On State Route 51, the driver continued southbound in the northbound lanes. An Arizona Department of Public Safety officer attempted to interdict the vehicle, but was unsuccessful.
The driver went onto Interstate 10 going the wrong way. While the suspect was driving the wrong way on the westbound ramp to US 60, he crashed into the officer's vehicle.
Cook confirmed that the suspect driver was killed upon impact.
Mesa Police have identified the officer as Brandon Mendoza. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died about four hours after the crash.
Cook said that it appears as though the officer had no chance to brake or evade before crashing into the oncoming car at freeway speeds.
More Patrol
Police-Led Mental Health Charity Expands to Include Veterans
Talk To Me Post Tour (TTMPT), a non-profit organization that has been providing peer-support programs and professional psychological support for first responders, is now expanding services to military veterans.
Read More →
WakeMed Campus Police Officer Killed in Hospital Shooting
A WakeMed Campus Police Officer died after being shot in the lobby of the emergency department at a North Carolina hospital over the weekend.
Read More →
Video Shows Barricaded Suspect Fall Through Ceiling and Into SWAT Custody
Deputies in Indian River County, Florida, apprehended a suspect after he fell through the ceiling with SWAT members waiting below. The sheriff’s department released video of the apprehension.
Read More →
From the Show Floor: T2 Systems
Learn about T2 Systems and its electronic parking enforcement solutions. Retired Chief John Holland outlines the benefits of using such a system to manage parking enforcement.
Read More →
Texas Pollice Department Adds Reconview Tower
A Texas police chief shares how the Decatur Police Department will use its new Reconview observation tower.
Read More →
From the Show Floor: Traka
Join POLICE as we visit with Steve Atkinson of Traka and learn about the company’s asset management cabinets and key lockers.
Read More →
Team Wendy Shares New DREW Data During Personal Armour Systems Symposium
Team Wendy shared data about DREW, a biofidelic helmet-test rig built to simulate real head-to-ground falls and capture both linear and rotational head motion, during the recent Personal Armour Systems Symposium in Belgium.
Read More →
2026 US Police and Fire Championships to Unite First Responders in San Diego for 59th Annual Event
The 2026 US Police and Fire Championships, featuring more than 35 Olympic-style events and new competitions, will return to San Diego, California.
Read More →
FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends to Host Live Audience for National First Responders Day
In honor of National First Responders Day, FOX News Channel’s FOX & Friends will host a live audience made up of first responders and their families. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other emergency personnel have been invited to attend the live program.
Read More →
How One Police Department Cut Crime by 46% with Smarter Patrol Management
Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.
Read More →