An arrest has been made in relation to the hit and run collision in the area of East Irvington Road and South Fremont Avenue that killed Tucson pedestrian, Angelic Monica Barnes, age 29.
Ms. Barnes had been walking across East Irvington Road in a southbound direction just west of the intersection with South Fremont Avenue. Ms. Barnes was not in a crosswalk. A vehicle was traveling eastbound on East Irvington Road in the curb lane when Ms. Barnes was crossing the street. The vehicle struck Ms. Barnes while she was in the roadway, but continued traveling eastbound after striking her without stopping or slowing.
The vehicle and driver involved in the collision have been located.
On the morning of August 10, 2013, a family member of the person, who had been driving the vehicle on the evening of August 9, 2013, noticed damage to it when it was seen parked in front of a residence in the 2000 block of East Naco Vista. The family member immediately called 911 to advise that the vehicle was still at the residence.
The driver, Rebecca Lanette Valenzuela (18-years old) and her two female passengers, who had been in the vehicle at the time of the collision, were also at the residence.
Tucson Police Department officers proceeded to the residence to confirm that the vehicles and females were there. Detectives determined that Valenzuela had been driving a white 2004 Ford Freestar van on the evening of August 9, 2013. While traveling on Irvington Road, she struck Ms. Barnes with the van, but did not stop to render aid. Instead, she and her two female passengers panicked and fled the scene of the collision.
According to police there were obvious signs of damage on the van, including extensive windshield damage. Ms. Valenzuela was arrested for one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving a Death, a Class 2 Felony. She was booked into the Pima County Jail.
The passengers have not been charged. The vehicle was impounded for evidentiary purposes.