Investigators reported that the pedestrian was walking across the six lanes of Speedway from the north side to the south when he was hit by a Hyundai sedan that was heading east in the curb lane
Tucson, AZ – A pedestrian who was hospitalized with major injuries after being struck by a vehicle in Tucson on Saturday night died of his injuries days later, according to the Tucson Police Department
The incident took place in the 3700 block of East Speedway Boulevard between Alvernon and Dodge streets at around 8 p.m. on Saturday, January 17.
Investigators reported that the pedestrian was walking across the six lanes of Speedway from the north side to the south when he was hit by a Hyundai sedan that was heading east in the curb lane. The pedestrian was reportedly wearing dark clothing and was not in a marked or unmarked crosswalk when the incident happened.
The Tucson Police Department and crews from the Tucson Fire Department were called to the scene. Medics transported the pedestrian to a hospital with what was described as life-threatening injuries.
The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner was notified on January 22 that the pedestrian had succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The victim was identified by the Medical Examiner’s Office as Walter James Pain, 59.
Tucson police reported that the Hyundai driver was at the scene when the authorities arrived and was not suspected of DUI. According to police, jaywalking was believed to be a major factor in the crash.
A section of Speedway Boulevard was shut down as authorities investigated the incident.
The Tucson Police Department is handling the ongoing investigation into the incident.
Arizona experienced a slight decline in traffic incidents over the past two years, though crash fatalities remain high. In 2023, the state reported 122,247 total motor-vehicle crashes with 1,307 deaths, while 2024 saw a small decrease to 121,107 crashes and 1,228 fatalities, representing a 6.1% drop in deaths compared with the previous year. Despite the modest improvement, the number of serious injuries and fatalities remains near historically high levels, highlighting ongoing road safety challenges.
Speeding, impaired driving, and failure to use safety devices continue to be major contributing factors in fatal and serious crashes across the state. Emergency response efforts and public safety campaigns aim to reduce these risks, but Arizona’s highways and urban roads continue to see a significant number of severe accidents annually.
If you have lost a loved one in a pedestrian collision, you can learn more about your options by visiting our car accident attorney page.