Phoenix police are on the hunt for two drivers involved in separate fatal hit-and-run incidents that claimed the lives of two individuals in the city. In one case, a man was struck and killed in a parking lot near 43rd and Dunlap avenues late Thursday morning. The victim, found with "obvious signs of trauma," per authorities, was quickly taken to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. According to AZFamily, the driver fled the scene before police arrived, and no vehicle description has been released.
In the second incident, reported by 12News, 49-year-old Magellan Rutaneahwa was hit around 7:30 p.m. Sunday night at the intersection of 7th Street and McDowell Road. Struck by a vehicle traveling northbound while he was crossing against the light, Rutaneahwa was later pronounced dead at the hospital, having suffered serious injuries. The authorities, calling for witnesses, have yet to release information about the vehicle involved.
Investigators are piecing together the circumstances leading up to both crashes, with speed suspected to be a factor in the latter incident. For those holding information, Phoenix police urge contacting Silent Witness. The anonymity-protected program, which operates 24/7, offers rewards up to $1,000 for tips leading to an arrest or indictment in these cases.
Residents with knowledge of either hit-and-run are encouraged to call Silent Witness at 480-948-6377, visit their website, or download the app to submit an anonymous tip. Every piece of information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, might prove crucial in securing justice for the victims and their families left reeling in the wake of these tragic events.
