Fiery Loop 202 Crash in Tempe Shuts Westbound Lanes for Hours as Arizona Investigators Probe Injuries

TEMPE, AZ — Investigators are looking into a fiery crash on Loop 202 in Tempe that closed westbound lanes for several hours Sunday evening. The Arizona Department of Public Safety said crews were called around 5:30 p.m. to the freeway just west of McClintock Drive for an unknown injury collision.

The Arizona Department of Transportation confirmed that at least one vehicle caught fire in the crash. Westbound traffic was shut down while authorities responded and cleared the scene.

Closure Near McClintock Drive

ADOT said Loop 202 westbound was closed at Loop 101 because of the vehicle fire. The agency warned drivers to expect delays and said there was no estimated time to reopen while the incident was active.

Traffic information was pushed through the AZ511 system, including the agency’s real-time website and app.

Injury Details Still Unclear

Officials said it was not immediately known whether anyone was hurt. The extent of any injuries also had not been determined as of Sunday night.

The crash was being handled as an investigation by DPS, which did not release any additional details about the number of vehicles involved.

Freeway Reopened Late Night

The westbound lanes stayed closed for hours while crews investigated the scene. By late Sunday night, the freeway had reopened.

Drivers in the area were urged to monitor traffic updates as the investigation continued.

What Drivers Should Know

Fiery freeway crashes can quickly create long backups, especially when lanes are blocked on a major Phoenix-area route like Loop 202. Sunday’s closure affected westbound travel in Tempe until the roadway was cleared.

Authorities have not said what caused the crash, and no timeline was given for any further updates from investigators.

TNSO covers California, Nevada, and Arizona as the story unfolds.