Serious 4-vehicle crash shuts down southbound SR 347 at Papago Road

One person hospitalized as DPS investigates the collision that occurred in a busy rural intersection.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A serious four-vehicle crash in Maricopa, Arizona shut down the southbound lanes of State Route 347 at the Papago Road intersection on Thursday afternoon. Emergency crews from multiple agencies responded to the scene, where they found multiple disabled vehicles scattered across the intersection and median. One person was transported to a local hospital, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation into the cause of the collision.

Why it matters

This intersection on State Route 347 has seen multiple serious crashes in recent months, renewing calls from local leaders for a traffic signal to be installed to improve safety. The area is a busy rural intersection that serves as a major thoroughfare, so any closure or collision can have significant impacts on traffic flow and commute times.

The details

The four-vehicle crash occurred around 4:05 pm in the southbound lanes of SR 347 at the Papago Road intersection. A dark red Ford Expedition, a black pickup truck, and a silver Toyota RAV4 were found disabled in the median, while a white Tesla came to rest in the southwest corner of the intersection with its airbags deployed. Emergency crews from Maricopa Police, Ak-Chin Police, Ak-Chin Fire and Medical, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to the scene. As of 4:45 pm, the southbound lanes of SR 347 remained fully closed at Papago Road while DPS investigated the cause of the serious injury collision.

  • The crash occurred around 4:05 pm on Thursday, February 27, 2026.
  • As of 4:45 pm, the southbound lanes of SR 347 remained fully closed at Papago Road.

The players

Arizona Department of Public Safety

The state law enforcement agency leading the investigation into the cause of the four-vehicle crash.

Maricopa Police Department

The local police department assisting with the response and investigation at the scene of the collision.

Ak-Chin Police Department

The tribal police department assisting with the response and investigation at the scene of the collision.

Ak-Chin Fire and Medical

The local fire and emergency medical services responding to the scene of the serious four-vehicle crash.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is an agency assist.”

— Maricopa Police Department spokesperson (inmaricopa.com)

“The crash was a four-vehicle, serious injury collision in the southbound lanes. One person has been transported to a local hospital.”

— Bart Graves, DPS spokesperson (inmaricopa.com)

What’s next

DPS will continue to investigate the cause of the four-vehicle crash and determine if any charges will be filed. Local officials will also likely review the safety record of the Papago Road intersection on SR 347 and consider accelerating plans for a traffic signal to be installed later this year.

The takeaway

This serious multi-vehicle collision on a major rural highway intersection highlights the ongoing traffic safety challenges facing growing communities like Maricopa. While plans are in place to install a traffic signal at this location, the recent spate of crashes underscores the urgent need to prioritize infrastructure improvements that can prevent such incidents and protect public safety.