Cheyenne and Angel Zarraga spent the last several months preparing their home for a new arrival. But as they await the birth of their first child this fall, the couple is instead dealing with the wreckage of a home that has been struck by vehicles twice in less than six months.
The Zarragas live near the intersection of 91st Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix, where a specific stretch of 95th Avenue creates a dangerous trap for unsuspecting drivers. According to the couple, motorists frequently speed down the road, unaware that the street simply ends, leaving their residence directly in the path of oncoming traffic.
The recurring violence of these accidents has left the couple pleading for help as they navigate a complex jurisdictional gap between the City of Phoenix and their homeowners association (HOA). Whereas the city provides safety recommendations, it maintains that the specific area where the crashes occur falls outside of municipal jurisdiction.
The pattern of destruction began in November, when a vehicle barreled down 95th Avenue and slammed into the home. The couple estimates the car was traveling at approximately 60 mph at the time of impact. In that instance, the driver was apprehended and cited.
“We worked really hard for this house and place everything we have into it, and to just see it so easily destroyed was heartbreaking,” Cheyenne Zarraga said.
A failed attempt at safety
Following the first collision, the Zarragas’ HOA took steps to fortify the property. The association installed a gate at the terminus of 95th Avenue, erected temporary barriers, and added a speed bump to alert drivers that the road was ending.
Those measures proved insufficient. Early Monday morning, before the paint from the previous repairs had even dried, a blue Nissan crashed through the newly installed gate and slammed into the home. Unlike the first accident, the driver in this second incident fled the scene and has not yet been identified or caught.
The psychological toll of the repeated incidents has been compounded by the couple’s pregnancy. Cheyenne Zarraga described the experience as devastating, noting that while they are excited for their child, the instability of their home has created a state of emotional turmoil.
“I can’t believe this is my house. I can’t believe that it happened again. It’s devastating,” Zarraga said. “It’s been a long time coming, so we’re very excited, but there’s just a lot of mixed emotions given the situation.”
The following table outlines the sequence of events leading to the current crisis:
| Timeframe | Event | Outcome/Action |
|---|---|---|
| November | First vehicle collision (~60 mph) | Driver caught and cited |
| Winter | HOA safety installations | Gate, barriers, and speed bump added |
| Monday Morning | Second vehicle collision (Blue Nissan) | Hit-and-run; gate destroyed |
The jurisdictional divide
The Zarragas now find themselves caught in a bureaucratic stalemate. The core of the issue is a divide in roadway maintenance: the City of Phoenix maintains 95th Avenue only up to a specific point; beyond that boundary, the road becomes the private responsibility of the HOA.
This distinction has left the homeowners feeling abandoned by the agencies meant to ensure public safety. Because the crashes occur on the private portion of the road, the city argues it has limited authority to intervene directly.
“I just feel like, how is it that the point is not being made, that this is a dangerous road, and why can’t we get help?” Zarraga said. “We’re very stuck and it’s not anyone’s problem it feels like, but our own.”
A spokesperson for the City of Phoenix stated that the city’s traffic services team worked with the HOA approximately one year ago to provide safety recommendations. These suggestions included the installation of a street light next to the gate for better nighttime illumination and the use of more visible signage to warn drivers that the city-maintained road was ending.
The city confirmed that signage has already been installed on the municipal side of the roadway to clearly mark where city property ends and HOA property begins. This is intended to help residents identify the correct agency to contact for roadway concerns.
The path toward a permanent solution
While the city will not take direct action on private property, it has pointed the community toward a resident-driven solution. The city recommends that the neighborhood pursue a petition for the installation of speed cushions on the city-maintained portion of 95th Avenue.
Under the City of Phoenix speed cushion program, the process is entirely resident-led. The community must complete a formal petition to demonstrate a verified require for traffic-calming devices before the city will implement them.
The Zarragas say a petition is currently ongoing, but they remain concerned that the unhurried pace of bureaucracy does not match the immediate danger posed to their home—and soon, their child.
The HOA has not responded to requests for comment regarding the failure of the recently installed gate or their plans for further mitigation.
The next step for the Zarragas and their neighbors is the completion and submission of the speed cushion petition to the city’s traffic services department. If approved, this would mark the first municipal intervention on the city-owned side of the road intended to slow traffic before it reaches the private boundary.
Do you live in an area with similar jurisdictional road disputes? Share your experience in the comments or contact our newsroom.
