A Sunday drive through central Phoenix turned tragic when a woman was struck and killed at a busy intersection, police said, as the driver who hit her took off before officers arrived.
Phoenix police said officers were called to Central Avenue and Elwood Street around 11 a.m., where they found a woman in the roadway with severe injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver involved in the crash had already left, and detectives have taken over the hit-and-run investigation.
What police say
According to Arizona's Family, officers responded to the crash around 11 a.m. Sunday and found the victim with life-threatening injuries in the roadway. Police have not released the woman's name or any description of the driver or vehicle. Detectives are still working to piece together what led up to the collision and are asking anyone who was in the area and may have video or information to come forward.
Pedestrian safety in Phoenix
The deadly crash lands in the middle of a stubborn pedestrian-safety problem in the Valley. The Arizona State Press reports that ADOT's 2024 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts cite more than 2,000 pedestrian-involved crashes statewide and 263 pedestrian deaths in 2024. In response, city officials have moved to tighten enforcement around mid-block crossings and medians as part of broader efforts to drive those numbers down.
How to help
Phoenix police are urging anyone with information about Sunday's hit-and-run to contact Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish, and to hang on to any video recorded near the time of the crash, Arizona's Family reports. Tips can be submitted anonymously and may be eligible for a reward if they lead to an arrest.
Legal stakes for a fleeing driver
Under Arizona law, leaving the scene of a crash that causes death or serious injury can be charged as a felony, with potential penalties that include years in prison and long license revocations under A.R.S. 28-661. The Shouse Law Group notes that lawmakers treat fleeing a fatal crash as a particularly serious offense.
Detectives continue to investigate, and the Phoenix Police Department is asking anyone who may have seen the collision or captured video of the area to contact officers or Silent Witness.
