On April 23, 2016, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Tucson Police Department officers responded to East Speedway Boulevard and East Esperanza Drive for a single vehicle collision. Upon arrival, officers located a white Ford pickup truck with a single occupant inside. Witnesses on scene were rendering first-aid. Tucson Fire responded and transported the driver to Banner University Medical Center with life threatening injuries.
Detectives from the Tucson Police Department’s Traffic Investigations Unit responded to continue the investigation. They were able to determine that the 1999 Ford pickup truck was traveling eastbound on East Speedway Boulevard. As the truck was passing East Esperanza Drive, it struck the raised median and collided with several Palo Verde Trees. The collision caused the truck to roll over.
Just before 7:00 p.m. this evening, the driver of the truck succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The victim has been identified as 16-year-old Austin Butler. Next of kin have been notified.
Speed appears to be a factor in the collision. Detectives are still determining if impairments were also a factor.