A preliminary investigation reveals that a man was stopped in the center lane on southbound 22nd Street when he was struck by a vehicle
Tucson, AZ– The pedestrian who was struck and injured by a hit-and-run driver near an intersection in Tucson earlier this month later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital, according to the Tucson Police Department.
The collision took place in the 6400 block of 22nd Street and Wilmot Road just before 5 a.m. on Tuesday, January 6.
A preliminary investigation reveals that a man was stopped in the center lane on southbound 22nd Street when he was struck by a vehicle. The driver of the involved vehicle fled the scene before police arrived.
The Tucson Police Department and firefighters responded to the scene and located the victim with major injuries. The pedestrian was transported to a hospital and was listed in critical condition.
Police said the victim died at the hospital on Saturday, January 17. He was identified as Brallan Alberto Nidez Guzman, 30.
On Sunday, January 10, police located the vehicle and driver suspected to have been involved in the hit-and-run. The suspect, identified as James Anthony Badia, 57, was arrested and booked into the Pima County Jail on suspicion of hit-and-run causing serious injury or death.
The Tucson Police Department is still investigating the accident.
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 been injured or lost a loved one in this collision, you can learn more about your options by visiting our car accident attorney page.