A fiery collision involving four vehicles broke the calm of a quiet Sunday afternoon in Fountain Hills June 14.

Five people were sent to Valley hospitals after the head-on collision on Saguaro Boulevard just south of Palmer Way. Due to the construction on Saguaro, traffic is sharing the two southbound lanes to travel in both directions at that location.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Chervenak said MCSO had received reports of an erratic driver in a white four-door sedan on the Beeline Highway shortly before the collision at 2:40 p.m.

The sedan, identified by witnesses as an older model Lincoln, was traveling north on Saguaro when it struck a Chevy Corvette with two passengers heading south.

The sedan and the Corvette caught fire and were fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived.

A SUV also traveling south struck the Corvette. The SUV rolled backward down a slope and struck a Rural/Metro ambulance passing through the area.

Fountain Hills Fire Chief Randy Roberts said the ambulance was returning to service in another part of the Valley after covering Fountain Hills.

Roberts said the ambulance crew noticed the fire and ran to the scene with a fire extinguisher. He said they were unable to control the blaze but were able to subdue flames enough to allow bystanders time to pull the two passengers from the burning Vette.

“There was some heroic work on the scene by bystanders,” Roberts said. “We would like to recognize them if we can confirm their identities.”

Roberts said there were five patients transported from the four vehicles.

Chervenak said two children from the SUV were taken to Honor Health Scottsdale hospital on Shea. The two people in the Corvette were airlifted to Honor Health John C. Lincoln hospital in Phoenix. Although serious none of the injuries are considered life-threatening.

The driver of the sedan was taken to Maricopa County Medical Center where deputies conducted a follow-up DUI investigation, according to Chervenak. That driver, identified as Daniel Russell, 32, was later arrested for DUI and was booked into Maricopa County Jail when released from medical care.

The MCSO investigation is ongoing.

Roberts said FHFD resources were used to the max and the town received assistance from Fort McDowell Fire Department and Rio Verde Fire District as back-up in town while crews were busy with the accident.