71-Year-Old Pedestrian Is Dead From Collision With Motorcycle

TUCSON, AZ – On Oct. 12 around 10 p.m., Tucson Police Department officers arrived at N. Dodge Blvd. and E. Speedway Blvd. in response to reports of a serious-injury pedestrian-motorcycle collision. The pedestrian, 71-year-old George E. McDonald, was taken to Banner University Medical Center by Tucson Fire medics with what police called non-life-threatening yet serious injuries. However, McDonald’s condition took a turn for the worse, and the police Traffic Investigations Unit was notified Wed., Oct. 23 that the injuries from the collision had killed him.

The accident happened when McDonald attempted to cross Speedway southbound at Dodge Blvd. and was struck by a black 2016 Victory motorcycle heading east on Speedway. Upon impact, the motorcycle’s rider was thrown off the vehicle, resulting in what police called minor injuries.

Police believe the accident was caused because McDonald didn’t activate the intersection’s High-intensity Activated crossWalK or “HAWK” light, which pedestrians must do to cross the street safely. Though he was in the crosswalk, the HAWK light not being activated meant McDonald ended up attempting to cross the street against the light. And that was why the motorcyclist didn’t see him until it was too late, police said.

The motorcycle’s rider stayed at the accident scene after the collision, and police determined he wasn’t impaired. However, police believe McDonald had been impaired when the collision occurred, according to a police report.

Road evidence showed that speed wasn’t a factor in the accident, and the motorcycle rider wasn’t cited for the accident.

This is the 31st pedestrian fatality in Tucson this year so far, whereas 26 pedestrians were killed on Tucson streets in all of 2018.