Car crash into apartment building causes traffic shutdown and power outage in Tempe near McClintic and Guadalupe

Two vehicles collided Sunday night at the intersection of McClintock Drive and Guadalupe Road in Tempe, Arizona, resulting in one car crashing into an apartment building and a power box, officials said. The crash caused a traffic shutdown and power outage in the area, and police took one driver into custody on suspicion of impairment, according to Tempe authorities.

The crash occurred at 10:17 p.m. Sunday, February 16, 2025, at the intersection of McClintock Drive and Guadalupe Road in Tempe, according to Tempe police and fire department officials. After the initial collision between two vehicles, one car struck a power box that controlled the traffic signals at the intersection, causing the traffic lights to go out and forcing a shutdown of the intersection, Tempe authorities said. The same vehicle then crashed into a nearby apartment complex located on the northwest corner of the intersection, sources confirmed.

Preliminary reports indicated that three people were rushed to the hospital in serious condition, while several others sustained non-life-threatening injuries, sources said.

Emergency responders arrived promptly at the scene following the report of the crash. Firefighters found multiple occupants injured and transported two drivers to a nearby hospital, according to Tempe fire officials. Specific details about the injuries remained under investigation.

Tempe police conducted a field sobriety test on one adult male driver at a nearby gas station and took him into custody on suspicion of impairment, according to police statements. Authorities have not confirmed the results of further testing, and no sobriety tests were reported for the second driver involved in the crash. The investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing, Tempe police said.

The damage caused by the crash included the destruction of a power box that controlled the traffic signals at the intersection, resulting in a power outage that affected the traffic lights at McClintock Drive and Guadalupe Road. The power outage was limited to the traffic signals and the immediate area, with no reports of a broader power failure, officials said. The vehicle that hit the power box also collided with the apartment building, but the extent of structural damage to the complex has not been detailed by authorities.

The intersection remained closed for several hours as crews worked to restore power to the traffic signals and clear the wreckage. Tempe police and firefighters managed traffic and coordinated the response to ensure public safety during the shutdown. No official statements were released regarding the duration of the power outage or the timeline for reopening the intersection.

FOX 10 Phoenix provided on-scene coverage of the incident and confirmed the location and timing of the crash. Video footage from Newsflare corroborated the February 16 timestamp and showed emergency responders at the scene. Tempe police have not released the names of those involved or provided further updates on the condition of the injured.

This incident adds to the ongoing traffic safety concerns in the Tempe area, where authorities continue to investigate impairment-related crashes. The police department is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led to the collision and the subsequent property damage. Further information is expected as the investigation progresses.