A quiet Sunday night in west Phoenix turned tragic when a toddler was fatally struck by a car in what police are treating as a hit-and-run. Officers were called to the area of 31st Avenue and Buckeye Road shortly before 9 p.m., where they found the child critically injured. Phoenix Fire Department crews took the boy to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
According to detectives, the toddler had wandered into a driveway without supervision when he was hit. Police say a 35-year-old man is now in custody in connection with the crash.
What police say
According to 12News, Phoenix officers arrived to find the child in critical condition. The outlet reports the driver initially stopped after the collision, then left the scene in another vehicle before officers could speak with him.
Investigators say witnesses and officers helped identify the vehicle involved. Detectives later located and arrested a suspect without incident.
Arrest and charges
Arizona's Family reports the man arrested in connection with the crash is 35-year-old Carlos Rojas Mora. Phoenix police told the outlet he was booked on hit-and-run causing death and faces felony charges.
A booking photo was not immediately released. Police say the investigation is still active.
Pedestrian safety in Arizona
The deadly crash comes against the backdrop of a larger pattern of serious pedestrian collisions in Arizona. The Arizona Department of Transportation recorded 1,228 traffic fatalities statewide in 2024, including 263 pedestrian deaths, and listed hit-and-run crashes as an ongoing concern for law enforcement and safety officials.
Legal implications
Under Arizona law, leaving the scene of a crash that results in injury or death can be charged as a felony under Shouse Law Group's summary of A.R.S. § 28-661. Penalties vary depending on whether a driver caused the collision and can include prison time and loss of driving privileges if there is a conviction.
Detectives with the Phoenix Police Department's Vehicular Crimes Unit are continuing to work the case while prosecutors review the evidence and determine formal charges and court dates. Authorities have not yet released information about arraignment or bail.
