Driver in fatal pedestrian crash arrested

June 27, 2012 • Posted by: Michael McKisson

Here's a view of the street where the crash occurred.

A 54-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed by a 68-year-old driver who was arrested for the crash.

Peter Morse was struck by James Douglas Soukup near Rudasill Road and La Cañada Drive at 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.

According to a Pima County Sheriff’s Department news release, Morse was walking westbound on Rudasill Road when Soukup, who was traveling eastbound, struck him.

After an investigation, Soukup was arrested on three charges — causing serious physical injury or death by a moving vehicle, driving without due care and failure to control speed to avoid an accident.

The Arizona Daily Star is reporting that Morse was walking in the shoulder of Rudasill against traffic. The road has no sidewalk.

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6 comments

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Mike Rogers

you must be in control of your vehicle at all times....Peter was also an upstanding person and a Mechanical Engineer in which his talents will be missed internationally for years to come. I appologize to you and your family but no one is above the law and as such he should be held to the same standards as anyone else who has KILLED another with his vehicle.

Pinchebecky

i meant to post this as a new comment not a reply - this was my grandfather that was the driver i feel for the man and the family of the now deceased but my grandfather is not suffering from an illness or need his lic. taken away it was an ACCIDENT he didnt personally strike this person down and people get stuck and killed by all AGES of people out there accidents happen and just b/c the pedestrian was doing what he was supposed to doesn't mean anything my grandfather is not blaming him for the accident and he has to live with this my grandfather is a good person who went EVERY saturday to pray for the dying in the hospitals he doesnt deserve your negative comments

Sdonovan1970

We don't know all the facts yet so, let's not bash please. I personally am just saddened for all involved. My thoughts and payers go out to them and their families.

Pinchebecky

this was my grandfather that was the driver i feel for the man and the family of the now deceased but my grandfather is not suffering from an illness or need his lic. taken away it was an ACCIDENT he didnt personally strike this person down and people get stuck and killed by all AGES of people out there accidents happen and just b/c the pedestrian was doing what he was supposed to doesn't mean anything my grandfather is not blaming him for the accident and he has to live with this my grandfather is a good person who went EVERY saturday to pray for the dying in the hospitals he doesnt deserve your negative comments

rynsa

"The Arizona Daily Star is reporting that Morse was walking in the shoulder of Rudasill against traffic. The road has no sidewalk." In other words, the pedestrian was doing exactly what he was supposed to do according to AZ law: http://www.pagnet.org/Default.aspx?tabid=489 "28-796. Pedestrian on roadways... B. If sidewalks are not provided, a pedestrian walking along and on a highway shall walk when practicable only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic that may approach from the opposite direction."

Martha Retallick

Sorry to say this, but there are elderly people who shouldn't be driving anymore. Saw this scenario play out in my family a few months ago, and the end result is that one relative is no longer allowed behind the wheel. The good news is that no one was seriously injured before the keys were taken away.