A 22-year-old man is dead after the car he was riding in Wednesday night veered off the road and crashed into a light pole in Mesa about 9:25 p.m.
Justin E. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident near Alma School Road and West Ninth Street. He was the passenger in a 2005 Nissan Altima, which police said was driven by Alison Porter, 21.
Porter suffered life-threatening injuries and was in serious condition Thursday morning at a local hospital.
According to the Mesa police report, Porter was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Alma School Road and lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer right, jump a curb and slide sideways into a light pole on the adjacent roadway. The force of the collision almost split the car in half.
Police suspect speed and impairment were contributing factors to the crash. The investigation continues and no arrest or charges had been made as of Thursday morning.
