A 68-year-old woman, Tracie L. Gordon, died after being struck while crossing 75th Avenue in west Phoenix in her motorized wheelchair. First responders found her at the scene and she was taken to a hospital, where she later died.
The collision occurred shortly after 10 p.m. last Thursday at 75th Avenue and Encanto Boulevard, with Phoenix police and fire crews responding. The crash remains under investigation as detectives continue reviewing details from the scene, according to Arizona's Family.
What investigators say
Detectives with the Phoenix Police Department’s Vehicular Crimes Unit told KTAR News they believe Gordon was trying to cross eastbound in her motorized wheelchair against the traffic signal when she was hit. The driver stayed at the scene, and officers do not believe impairment was a factor, KTAR reports. Investigators say they are reviewing witness statements and any available video as they work to piece together exactly what happened.
Pedestrian safety in the Valley
The collision highlights the vulnerability of people who rely on mobility devices and comes as state and local officials continue to push engineering changes and enforcement efforts to curb pedestrian deaths. The Arizona Department of Transportation points to its Strategic Highway Safety Plan and related programs that target life‑altering crashes involving pedestrians and wheelchair users, according to ADOT. Local reporting has documented similar incidents, such as a June 2025 hit-and-run that injured a man in a wheelchair, and has noted that residents can ask the city to review traffic engineering at troublesome intersections, Arizona's Family reported.
Phoenix police have not announced any charges and say the crash is still under active investigation, officials told KTAR News. Detectives with the Vehicular Crimes Unit continue to examine the scene and speak with witnesses, and officials say they will release more information as it becomes available.
