Trucking Laws · Arizona · October 25, 2026

Arizona Troopers Say Car Hauler Driver Blew a 0.168 After I-40 Crash

A state trooper with a clipboard talks with a driver beside a white car hauler semi near Flagstaff, with pines and a mountain behind — Illustration for this story. Not a photo of a specific location.

Arizona state troopers arrested a commercial vehicle driver on suspicion of impaired driving after a car hauler rolled over on Interstate 40 east of Flagstaff, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The details below come from AZDPS statements as reported Oct. 24 by CDL Life. The crash happened in the early morning hours of Oct. 18. The driver has not been publicly named, and he is charged, not convicted. No injuries were mentioned in the report.

What troopers say they found

AZDPS Highway Patrol troopers responded to a reported crash involving a car hauler on I-40 east of Flagstaff, according to the agency.

After speaking with the driver, troopers reported "multiple signs of impairment." A field sobriety test was started but had to be stopped when the driver was unable to follow instructions, officials said.

A breath test showed a blood alcohol level of 0.168, which AZDPS described as "more than twice the legal limit for most drivers and significantly above the stricter limit applied to commercial drivers."

What the driver told troopers

According to AZDPS, the driver said this was not the first time.

"The driver told Troopers this was the second time he had crashed a commercial vehicle while intoxicated," the agency said. "Despite clear weather conditions, he claimed the truck had 'slipped,' leading to the collision."

The agency did not release details about the earlier crash the driver described.

About $500,000 in damage

Officials said the crash caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to 12 separate victims. All nine vehicles on the car hauler were damaged, along with more than 200 feet of Arizona Department of Transportation guardrail, according to AZDPS.

The charges

The driver was arrested for DUI, and felony criminal damage charges were also submitted, according to the agency.

The reminder from troopers

AZDPS used the arrest to send a message to commercial drivers.

"Driving impaired is never worth the risk. Commercial drivers are responsible for thousands of pounds of equipment, valuable cargo, and the lives of everyone sharing the roadway," officials said. "If you've been drinking, don't drive. Plan ahead, use a designated driver, call a ride, or stay where you are."

The arrest came less than a week before a separate case in New Hampshire, where police say they found about 170 beer bottles in a trucker's cab. Read Police say a trucker's cab held about 170 beer bottles at a bus lot.

Drivers brushing up on the alcohol rules for commercial drivers can find them in the free CDL practice test.