Phoenix police are investigating a fatal collision involving a vehicle and a gas-powered scooter leaving a man dead.
Officers were called to a vehicle collision around 1:30 a.m. near Cave Creek Road and Cheryl Drive. When officers arrived, they found a man lying on the ground and suffering from obvious signs of trauma. Officers also found a vehicle stopped in the roadway with the driver standing nearby. Officers were told a man, later identified as 42-year-old Gary Helton, was riding a gas-powered scooter on Cave Creek Road when it collided with a vehicle head on. Helton treated by fire but died from his injuries on scene.
Detectives responded to investigate the collision and to speak with witnesses. Preliminary information suggests both Helton and the passenger vehicle were driving on the left hand turn only lane towards each other until they collided head-on. Detectives completed an evaluation on the driver of the vehicle and determined the driver was impaired. The driver was later released.
A charging decision will be made once the investigation is complete.