On April 6, 2016, just before noon, a pedestrian was walking in the area of South 12th Avenue and West 44th Street when he noticed a vehicle that had apparently collided with a chain-link fence and a block wall on the northwest corner of the intersection. As the pedestrian got closer to the vehicle he observed the driver was still inside and appeared to be injured.
He immediately called 911 to report the incident, but did not witness the actual collision take place.
Tucson Fire was on the scene rendering first-aid to the victim, 21-year-old Robert I. Martinez, however he was pronounced deceased shortly after their arrival.
Detectives from the Tucson Police Department were able to determine that the vehicle (1996 Toyota Camry) had been traveling northbound on South 12th Avenue. As the vehicle approached West 44th Street, it crossed over the southbound lanes of traffic, ran through a chain-link fence surrounding a vacant lot and then collided with a block wall on the northwest corner of the intersection. At this time, it is unclear what caused the collision, but speed appears to have been a factor. Detectives spoke with citizens nearby who said they saw the vehicle there earlier in the morning, but thought it was a damaged vehicle that had been parked in that spot. At this time, there are no witnesses to the collision occurring.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision to please call 88-CRIME.