Heartbroken Friends Demand Answers After 72-Year-Old Phoenix Woman Dies in Hit-and-Run

Nearly two months after a hit-and-run collision in Phoenix, a 72-year-old woman has died, and the people who loved her are still waiting for answers. Her best friend is now speaking out publicly, and family members say they are devastated as they push investigators to find the driver who took off instead of staying at the scene.

Family presses for answers

Arizona's Family reported the woman’s death on June 9, noting that she had been hospitalized since the collision. Her close friend told the station the family wants justice and more transparency as detectives continue the inquiry. According to the outlet, officials have not released the victim’s name and have not identified a suspect. The friend says the family is urging anyone with information to step forward.

Hit-and-runs remain a statewide problem

Hit-and-run crashes and pedestrian deaths remain a persistent public safety problem in Arizona. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation's 2024 Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report, there were 16,136 hit-and-run crashes last year and 263 pedestrian fatalities statewide, numbers that underscore how often drivers leave crash scenes and the deadly toll on people walking. Safety advocates say those totals highlight the need for more enforcement, better street lighting and broader camera coverage in areas where pedestrians are vulnerable.

What investigators and family hope for

Friends and relatives are asking anyone who might have dash-cam footage or nearby surveillance video from the time of the crash to share it with investigators, saying even a small lead could help bring answers. The case remains under investigation, and the family is hoping that renewed public attention will generate tips that ultimately lead to accountability for the driver who fled.