Phoenix police say a late-night walk in central Phoenix turned deadly when a driver allegedly steered an SUV straight into a man near 16th Street and Maryland Avenue on May 3, then took off.
The victim, 52-year-old Norris L. Taft, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. According to investigators, early evidence at the scene suggested the driver intentionally hit Taft before fleeing.
Detectives initially released surveillance video and still images of a dark-colored SUV as they worked to track down the suspect. Phoenix police later identified 30-year-old Mikela Antresa Bahe as a suspect and said Flagstaff police helped take her into custody without incident on May 6. Bahe faces murder charges, according to 12News.
Police Release Images, Ask For Tips
Investigators urged people who live, work, or drive in the 16th Street and Maryland Avenue area to review any home security or dash-cam footage that might show the SUV around the time of the crash and to save any clips that could be relevant.
Detectives stressed that even a few seconds of video or a single clear photo can help them lock in a timeline, confirm the SUV’s direction of travel, or highlight specific damage that might connect it to the scene.
Statewide Context: Pedestrian Safety
The killing comes as Arizona continues to wrestle with stubbornly high pedestrian death numbers. The 2024 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report recorded 1,228 total traffic deaths statewide last year, including 263 pedestrians, and cited speeding and impairment as leading contributing factors, according to ADOT.
Legal Stakes
Arizona law treats fleeing a deadly crash as a serious felony. Under A.R.S. 28-661, a driver who leaves the scene of a collision that causes death or serious physical injury can be charged with a class 3 felony, or a class 2 felony if prosecutors say the driver caused the collision. The statute also mandates lengthy driver’s license revocation periods on top of potential multi-year prison sentences.
What’s Next
Authorities say Bahe is expected to be booked in Maricopa County while prosecutors review the case and decide how to proceed on formal charges. Detectives are still piecing together what led up to the crash and whether additional evidence supports their initial belief that Taft was intentionally hit.
Phoenix police are asking anyone with information about the incident, the SUV, or Bahe’s movements before or after the crash to contact the department or Silent Witness. Tips could help confirm whether the collision was deliberate and will likely factor into charging decisions, according to 12News.
