A grim Monday evening in Tempe, Arizona, witnessed two pedestrian fatalities, one involving a crash on city streets and another in a light rail collision. Tempe Police confirmed that a pedestrian was killed in an incident near Broadway Road and Priest Drive, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. The identity of the victim has not been released, and specifics on what led up to the crash remain undisclosed.
In a separate, yet equally tragic event, light rail service was halted following a fatal collision on Apache east of McClintock. Authorities, alerted by bystanders, discovered the body of 28-year-old Wade L. Stokley beside the tracks. Investigators determined the point of impact to be at Sycamore and Main in Mesa, with the train traveling westward into Tempe. The train operator was reportedly unaware of the incident when it occurred, noted in a gruesome detail by a witness claiming Stokley "threw himself in front of the train and that he was 'severed in half,'", as details emerged in a release by personal injury attorneys.
Tempe Police Lt. Scott Smith announced a search for witnesses to better understand the events leading to the light rail incident. Similarly, Mesa Police Detective Steve Berry indicated a review of surveillance video from the area is currently underway, though extracting the needed information is expected to take time.
The extent of Stokley's injuries significantly complicated the identification process, with officers initially unable to discern if the victim was a man or a woman. This indicates the severity of the scene police and Valley Metro officials are sifting through. Despite the evidence collected, the question remains whether the light rail fatality was an accident or an intentional act. Meanwhile, the investigation into the roadway collision continues, with little information available about the circumstances or the victim involved.
