A 69-year-old Flagstaff man is dead after being struck by a vehicle near University Plaza on South Plaza Way, and the 23-year-old Queen Creek driver accused in the crash is now facing manslaughter charges. Flagstaff police say Matthew Goodman remained at the scene and spoke with investigators before he was taken into custody.
Officers responded to the crash on Friday, September 4, and found Gary Zeman unconscious in the street, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. First responders performed life-saving measures on Zeman, but he died at the scene from his injuries. Police have cited speed and impairment as the primary contributing factors in the crash, per the same report.
The Flagstaff Police Department dispatched officers at approximately 7:49 p.m. that evening, deploying both its Criminal Investigations Division and Collision Reconstruction Team to process the scene, according to Flagscanner. Crash investigators collected evidence along South Plaza Way as part of the ongoing probe. Goodman was booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility on charges of reckless driving and manslaughter, and toxicology or full accident reconstruction findings have not yet been publicly released.
What Goodman Could Face in Court
Under Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-1103, recklessly causing the death of another person is classified as manslaughter, a Class 2 felony carrying a presumptive prison sentence of 10.5 years for a first offense, with a statutory range between 7 and 21 years, according to the Shouse Law Group. Arizona law does not distinguish between voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, grouping reckless vehicular homicides under the same felony classification.
The reckless driving charge Goodman also faces stems from Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-693, which defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property. A first offense is a Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by up to 120 days in jail, a $750 fine plus surcharges, and a potential license suspension of up to 90 days, per the Rosenstein Law Group. Prosecutors frequently pair reckless driving charges with felony manslaughter counts when speed or extreme driving is alleged. The charges against Goodman remain allegations subject to the full judicial process.
Where the Crash Happened
South Plaza Way, where the collision occurred, is a commercial strip near Woodlands Village Boulevard featuring shopping centers, restaurants, and medical facilities close to Northern Arizona University, an area Hoodline has previously covered. The 1300 block sits within a busy commercial zone that sees frequent vehicle and pedestrian traffic throughout the day and evening.
This is not the only fatal pedestrian incident Flagstaff police have investigated in recent weeks. Just last month, a 21-year-old Peoria man was struck and killed by a train near South San Francisco Street in downtown Flagstaff, a case Hoodline reported on at the time. Downtown rail corridors and arterial streets in the city have drawn ongoing public safety attention as a result.
Statewide Numbers Show a Mixed Picture
According to 2025 Arizona Department of Transportation crash data reported by the Daily Independent, alcohol impairment contributed to 334 traffic fatalities across Arizona last year, accounting for 28.9% of all statewide road deaths, while speeding was a factor in 367 fatalities. State traffic records show 1,999 pedestrian crashes occurred in Arizona in 2025, following 2,079 pedestrian crashes and 263 pedestrian fatalities recorded across the state in 2024.
Total traffic fatalities across Arizona roads fell 5.2% in 2025 to 1,156 deaths, marking the third consecutive year of declining traffic fatalities in the state even as overall numbers remain near historical highs, the outlet's report notes. A 2024 Governors Highway Safety Association analysis found that while national pedestrian fatalities saw a slight decline, Arizona was among the few states where pedestrian deaths increased, driven by wide multi-lane roads, rapid urban growth, high speed limits, and driver distraction, according to the Sasooness Law Group.
Flagstaff police are urging any witnesses or people with information about the crash to contact investigators at 928-774-1414. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.
