PHOENIX (AP) — A man who was driving a stolen SUV ran a red light, causing a multi-vehicle collision that killed a woman and her two teenage children, police said Friday.
Police arrested Raymond Montgomery, who is in his 30s, after he was released from the hospital. He was booked into jail on suspicion of murder, theft, robbery and endangerment.
It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. Police announced the arrest well after the close of business hours Friday but said Montgomery admitted to driving the SUV.
Montgomery was among several people injured in the crash Thursday. Police said he was speeding, and impairment also could have contributed to the collision.
Police identified those killed as Courtney Lonergan, 45; son Ali Geer, 18, and daughter Almira Geer, 16.
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The older teenager was driving his mother and sister when their vehicle collided with the SUV, police said. Both vehicles then struck a pickup, which struck a city bus. The SUV then hit a pedestrian in a crosswalk and a car that was stopped, police said.
None of the other injuries was life-threatening, police said.
According to police, Montgomery stole the vehicle from a woman several blocks away from the crash site.
This story has been corrected to show the teenagers’ last names are Geer.
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