Pedestrian In Crosswalk Struck Dead In Tucson DUI Collision

TUCSON, AZ — Tucson police were called to the intersection of S. Forgeus Avenue and E. Ajo Way in Tucson Sunday around 4 p.m. on a reported fatal pedestrian collision. Tucson Fire was also dispatched to the accident, but they couldn’t aid the pedestrian struck in a crosswalk. Instead, they pronounced the pedestrian, Beatrice Alvarez, 59, dead at the scene.

TPD detectives with the Traffic Investigations Unit and TPD officers interviewed witnesses and learned that Alvarez had been walking north, in the crosswalk, across Ajo Way on the Forgeus Avenue intersection’s west side. At the same time, a 2016 Kia Forte driven by Gabriela Aragon, 26, was in Ajo Way’s curb lane headed east, approaching a red light. However, Aragon then ran the red light, according to witnesses, colliding with both Alvarez and a 2009 Toyota Corolla attempting a left turn onto westbound Ajo Way from northbound Forgeus Avenue.

The Toyota’s driver, who sustained minor injuries from the accident, was taken to Banner University Medical Center.

A Tucson police DUI officer arrived at the collision’s scene and determined that Aragon was under the influence of alcohol when the collision happened. She was charged with second-degree murder, criminal damage and aggravated assault and booked into the Pima County Jail.

Tucson police determined that vehicle speed was also a cause of the collision.

The investigation continues, and police reported that Aragon might face additional charges.