An early morning bike ride in north Phoenix turned deadly Tuesday when an adult bicyclist was struck by a vehicle and later died at a nearby hospital, according to police.
Officers were dispatched around 5:54 a.m. to the area of Greenway Road and Cave Creek Road, where they found the rider in critical condition. Phoenix Fire crews rushed the bicyclist to a local hospital, but the person was later pronounced dead.
Investigators say the driver involved did not stay at the scene. Officers tracked the driver down a short time later and took the person into custody. Police have not released the names of either the bicyclist or the suspected driver, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
How to help investigators
Phoenix police are asking anyone who saw the collision or has video from the area to come forward. Tips can be shared through Silent Witness, which operates English and Spanish hotlines. Silent Witness lists 480‑WITNESS and 480‑TESTIGO as 24/7 numbers and also accepts online submissions.
The city’s police media page likewise directs the public to the Silent Witness tip line for information related to fatal collisions, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
Legal consequences for leaving the scene
Under Arizona law, drivers are required to stop after a crash that causes death or serious physical injury. Failing to do so is a felony that can bring prison time and license revocation.
A.R.S. 28‑661 states that leaving the scene of a crash involving death or serious physical injury is a class 3 felony, and the charge can be elevated to a class 2 felony if investigators determine the driver caused the collision, according to the Arizona Legislature.
Investigation ongoing
Phoenix Police Vehicular Crimes detectives are continuing to investigate the crash and say they will release more information as it becomes available. As is standard, detectives are withholding the victim’s name until next-of-kin notifications are completed and are urging anyone with information, video, or other observations from the area to contact authorities.
FOX 10 Phoenix reported the initial details from the department’s statement.
