A late-night drive on the southbound Loop 303 turned deadly early Saturday when a woman was struck and killed near Northern Avenue, and now state troopers are asking the public to help track down a pickup they believe was involved.
Troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety were called just after 2:30 a.m. to what was reported as a four-vehicle crash. The victim was later identified as 52-year-old Valerie Chesnut, according to ABC15.
Investigators say Chesnut was crossing the southbound lanes when she was hit first by a white pickup, then by two additional vehicles. Southbound traffic on Loop 303 was shut down for hours while crews worked the scene and cleared the roadway, per Arizona's Family. The pickup that allegedly struck her was described as a heavy-duty, dual-axle dually truck towing a car-hauler trailer that may have been headed toward California, according to 12News.
DPS Details And How To Help
The DPS Vehicular Crimes Unit is leading the case and is asking anyone with information to call 1-877-4AZ-TIPS or submit a tip online, referencing incident I26029923, according to the department's AZDPS tips page. Investigators say any dashcam or security video from the area around Northern Avenue around the time of the crash could be crucial in tracking down the truck and trailer.
Legal Consequences For Leaving The Scene
Under Arizona law, leaving the scene of a crash that results in a death can be charged as a felony, with potential prison time and mandatory revocation of the driver’s license. The statute spells out the specific felony classifications and revocation periods for different types of convictions, per the Arizona Legislature. Courts can also order alcohol or drug screening when impairment is suspected, and prosecutors typically treat fatal hit-and-run cases as serious offenses.
The DPS Vehicular Crimes Unit continues to investigate and is urging anyone who was driving in the Loop 303 and Northern Avenue area early Saturday morning to review any dashcam, doorbell, or home-security footage for images of the heavy-duty pickup or its car-hauler trailer. To share a tip or report a possible sighting, visit the AZDPS tips page or call 1-877-4AZ-TIPS.
