incident response unit

Blogs/News articles tagged as incident response unit

November 26, 2024 | Blog Articles
By Kelsey Mo / ADOT Communications

ADOT employee Rich Dimaio was on-duty, traveling Phoenix-area highways, when a call came out for a dog on the freeway. 

Dimaio, who is a member of ADOT’s incident Response Unit, sponsored by GEICO, responded to the call on I-10 eastbound near 40th Street where Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers had already surrounded the dog in the median. 

Dimaio took the dog, a young, female German Shepherd, to Maricopa County Animal Care & Control

November 14, 2024 | Blog Articles
By Kelsey Mo / ADOT Communications

Usually, my day job as a public information officer focused on safety at ADOT involves sitting behind a computer screen, typing up blogs or news releases and other duties that keep me confined to my desk. 

But, part of my job also involves getting to know how ADOT’s Incident Response Unit, sponsored by GEICO, patrols Phoenix-area freeways and helps clear obstructions and incidents in the roadways and get traffic moving as quickly and safely as possible. 

May 17, 2023 | Blog Articles
By Julian Lopez / ADOT Communications

Derik Woitaszewski says he’s been characterized as someone who “is able to get along and help animals as needed.”

So, it comes as no surprise that when ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center (TOC) received a call on the morning of May 11 about a kitten wandering along the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway near Vee Quiva Way, Woitaszewski, a member of ADOT’s Incident Response Unit, sponsored by GEICO, sprung to action.

November 17, 2022 | Blog Articles
By Luis Carlos Lopez / ADOT Communications

It’s Crash Responder Safety Week and, here at ADOT, we’re spotlighting a team that responds to incidents and help improve safety by getting traffic moving sooner after crashes and other incidents occur.

We are, of course, referring to our Incident Response Unit, a 15-member team that performs many duties, from setting up traffic control at crashes to removing debris from travel lanes to helping stranded motorists. 

June 23, 2022 | Blog Articles
By Luis Carlos Lopez / ADOT Communications

Beat the heat by being prepared, staying hydrated.

November 4, 2021 | Blog Articles
By Laurie Merrill / ADOT Communications

Read about how ADOT and DPS helped a motorist get safely home. 

November 1, 2021 | News/Press Release

PHOENIX –  In the past two years since the Arizona Department of Transportation started the Incident Response Unit sponsored by State Farm, pickup of litter and dangerous roadway debris has been far faster and more efficient than before. 

April 13, 2021 | Blog Articles
By Laurie Merrill / ADOT Communications

Jasmine Arollo is stepping into a new role with the Incident Response Unit, but its just the latest in a long line of ways her family has served at ADOT.

October 6, 2020 | News/Press Release

PHOENIX – It’s only been a year since its inception, but ADOT’s Incident Response Unit sponsored by State Farm has proved its worth in helping decrease crashes, aid drivers and improve traffic flow on Valley freeways.

Since hitting the road in October 2019, the 14-member unit, part of ADOT’s Traffic Systems Management and Operations Division, has responded to more than 10,400 crashes, disabled vehicles, debris or other incidents in the Phoenix metro area.

March 10, 2020 | Blog Articles
By Tim Tait / ADOT Communications

“6 Tom 16”

In following the tradition of the fire service and law enforcement, ADOT issued a final radio call for fallen Incident Response Unit member Frank Dorizio Tuesday following his memorial service in Tempe. That was Frank’s call sign as he patrolled Valley freeways, removing debris, helping troopers at crashes and assisting stranded motorists. You can hear the final call yourself in the sound file below.

March 2, 2020 | Blog Articles
By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

I know you have heard the jingle “Like a good neighbor, State Farm® is there.”  That can now be said for the Arizona Department of Transportation Incident Response Unit, or IRU, sponsored by State Farm®. Let me explain.

February 26, 2020 | Blog Articles
By Laurie Merrill / ADOT Communications

This is the story of a lucky cat rescued from danger.

Let’s call it: Highway Hawk saves highway cat.

On Monday, the young feline was clinging to a drainage grate on the shoulder of US 60 near Mill Avenue in Tempe. Her prospects looked pretty bleak.

Enter ADOT's Raymond Shaban, a member of the new Incident Response Unit sponsored by State Farm