A late Monday night in north Phoenix ended in tragedy when a 67-year-old man was hit by a vehicle and later died from his injuries. Officers responded around 8:52 p.m. on June 22 to the 13800 block of North 39th Avenue, where they found the man critically injured.
The victim was identified as Sanitgo Bernardo Ramirez, 67. Phoenix Fire Department crews took Ramirez to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to Your Valley. Phoenix police told the outlet that their Vehicular Crimes Unit responded to the scene and is handling the investigation.
Pedestrian deaths remain a statewide concern
Arizona recorded 263 pedestrian fatalities in 2024, with pedestrians making up roughly one in five traffic deaths across the state. That pattern, along with the higher fatality rate for pedestrian crashes compared with other collision types, is detailed in ADOT data that officials and safety advocates often cite when pushing for more protected crossings and traffic-calming measures.
Phoenix safety push meets a grim reality
The City of Phoenix has a Road Safety Action Plan and Vision Zero-style initiatives that the city says prioritize engineering, enforcement and community outreach to reduce collisions, according to the City of Phoenix. The latest death comes after other pedestrian fatalities in Phoenix this spring, including a May collision on 44th Street that left a 69-year-old man dead, highlighting a string of recent crashes, as reported in a deadly night on 44th Street.
Phoenix police asked anyone with information about the North 39th Avenue incident to contact the Vehicular Crimes Unit as the investigation continues, according to Your Valley. The department has not released additional details about the driver or whether impairment or other factors played a role.
