Tucson man dies after being struck by car; first pedestrian death in 2013

January 11, 2013 • Posted by:

Screen Shot 2013-01-11 at 9.47.11 AMA Tucson man died yesterday afternoon from injuries he sustained when he was struck while walking in a crosswalk on Monday.

According to a Tucson Police Department release, 21 year old Oscar Rodriguez was hit in a crosswalk at Valenecia and Country Club Roads at 10 a.m., Monday.

Rodriguez was walking north across Valencia and was struck on the eastern side of the intersection.

Police say the light turned green for the vehicles on Valencia while Rodriguez was crossing Valencia. Drivers in the lane closest to the median and the middle lane saw that Rodriguez was still in the crosswalk and stopped for him.

However a motorist in the lane furthest from the median was still accelerating through the intersection and struck Rodriguez when he stepped out past the vehicle stopped in the middle lane.

Police said the driver of the van that struck Rodriguez remained at the scene and no citations have been issued.

The death marks the first pedestrian death in 2013 for the City of Tucson.

Related posts:

Screen shot 2012-07-08 at 11.19.42 PMPedestrian struck on Thursday; dies Sunday Local columnist and cyclist writes about being struck by a car Pedestrian struck and killed at Third and Alvernon (updated) Screen shot 2012-06-26 at 10.47.11 AMPedestrian struck and killed in northwest Tucson
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Orvis
Orvis

Seemed apropos, fished it out of the Tucson Craig's list bike ads I got nailed by a white van towing a white flatbed trailer on Thursday around noon near the intersection of 4th ave and Speedway. The van sped up to get in front of me northbound on 4th (just before Speedway) and clipped me pretty bad with his trailer, ruined my bike and dislocated my shoulder. I work at KVOA, (I am out for a week with this) so if you saw this or have any information, please respond to this or email the station. Thanks http://tucson.craigslist.org/bik/3540952627.html

Orvis
Orvis

Doesn't the law require the intersection to be clear before you proceed through a new green light? This is what wide roads with higher speed traffic create, barriers to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Conflicts resulting in injury and death are inevitable. What does that say about us as a society? That we value the instant gratification the automobile represents over the lives of others.

Martha Retallick
Martha Retallick

Right on, Orvis. This point needs to be made to those who think that widening Broadway is a good idea.

Sluggh
Sluggh

Shameful driving. You don't pass same-direction traffic stopped at a crosswalk for this very reason.