Perry Vandell | Arizona Republic
Troy Warren for ChandlerNewsAndTalk.Com
A journalist with ABC15 and his wife were hospitalized after being involved in a multi-vehicle crash caused by a man fleeing Chandler police in an RV on Saturday evening.
Police say 32-year-old Arnold Serrano fled from officers who were responding to a trespassing call around 8 p.m. before plowing into five other vehicles at the intersection of Frye and Dobson roads.
Andy Ramirez and his wife, Norma, suffered serious injuries, according to a GoFundMe for them.
Anita Helt, the station’s vice president and general manager, told The Arizona Republic on Tuesday that Ramirez is a treasured member of the station.
“Andy is the heart of our newsroom, a nearly 25-year member of our ABC15 news team who we love and so many of us look up to,” Helt said in an emailed statement. “He is a respected journalist who cares about our community and a genuinely kind person. Our team’s thoughts and prayers are with him and his beautiful wife, Norma, their girls and the entire Ramirez family.”
Chandler police, who had previously shot Serrano when he drove the RV toward an officer, apprehended him before he was taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds and other injuries related to the crash. Serrano was under police watch at the hospital as of Sunday evening.
Police said a total of five people involved in the crash were taken to a hospital, including two with “significant injuries” that were not life threatening. It was not immediately clear if Ramirez and his wife were the ones Chandler police were referring to.
ABC15 journalist hospitalized after multi-vehicle crash involving Chandler police shooting
Perry Vandell
Arizona Republic
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A journalist with ABC15 and his wife were hospitalized after being involved in a multi-vehicle crash caused by a man fleeing Chandler police in an RV on Saturday evening.
Police say 32-year-old Arnold Serrano fled from officers who were responding to a trespassing call around 8 p.m. before plowing into five other vehicles at the intersection of Frye and Dobson roads.
Andy Ramirez and his wife, Norma, suffered serious injuries, according to a GoFundMe for them.
Anita Helt, the station’s vice president and general manager, told The Arizona Republic on Tuesday that Ramirez is a treasured member of the station.
“Andy is the heart of our newsroom, a nearly 25-year member of our ABC15 news team who we love and so many of us look up to,” Helt said in an emailed statement. “He is a respected journalist who cares about our community and a genuinely kind person. Our team’s thoughts and prayers are with him and his beautiful wife, Norma, their girls and the entire Ramirez family.”
Chandler police, who had previously shot Serrano when he drove the RV toward an officer, apprehended him before he was taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds and other injuries related to the crash. Serrano was under police watch at the hospital as of Sunday evening.
Police said a total of five people involved in the crash were taken to a hospital, including two with “significant injuries” that were not life threatening. It was not immediately clear if Ramirez and his wife were the ones Chandler police were referring to.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help financially support the family and offset medical expenses. It accumulated over $15,000 as of Tuesday evening.
Family members of Ramirez did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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