A man was struck by a work truck while sprinting across Glendale Avenue to catch a bus Friday morning, prompting Glendale police to shut down a stretch of the busy roadway during rush hour. The collision happened near 51st and Glendale avenues just before 7 a.m., snarling traffic as crews responded.
Driver Called 911 Immediately
According to azfamily.com, the man was running across the road in an attempt to catch the bus when the work truck hit him. The truck driver called 911 right away and reported that the man had run out in front of the vehicle, the outlet reported, citing Glendale police. He was rushed to a hospital afterward.
Reports on the man's condition have varied. The seed report from KTAR News 92.3 FM described him as critically injured, while the station's report said his condition was unknown at the time of publication. Police have not said whether the man was in a crosswalk when the collision occurred.
Speed, Impairment Ruled Out as Factors
Investigators do not believe speed or impairment played a role in the crash, per the same account from police. No citations, arrests, or fault determinations have been disclosed as the investigation continues.
Glendale Avenue was closed between 52nd and 56th avenues following the collision, with no estimated time given for reopening the roadway. Drivers were urged to seek alternate routes, including Bethany Home Road, Northern Avenue, 59th Avenue or 43rd Avenue, while the closure remained in effect through the morning commute.
Area Has Seen Other Serious Crashes
The stretch around 51st and Glendale avenues has been the site of other serious crashes in recent memory. ABC15 reported that a pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck by a car near the same intersection one evening, with emergency crews called to that scene around 6 p.m. In a separate case, Glendale police investigated two connected crashes along Glendale Avenue that left one person dead and several others injured, including an officer; ABC15 reported a passenger identified as 24-year-old Eva Puente Ravelo was pronounced dead at the scene of the second crash, which also happened near 51st Avenue and Glendale Avenue and involved the same erratic driver tied to the first wreck.
Statewide, the picture on traffic safety has been mixed. Traffic fatalities in Arizona reportedly fell in 2025, and alcohol-related crashes also decreased from 2024 to 2025, according to KTAR News 92.3 FM, though the outlet described the overall situation as still dire. The Arizona Department of Transportation's 2024 crash-facts report includes a dedicated section covering pedestrian and bicycle crashes statewide.
No further details on the man's identity or his medical status have been released. Hoodline will update this story as more information becomes available.
