The Tucson Police Department reported Monday that Donald Rieffel succumed to injuries received on September 21, 2016. Officers from Operations Division Midtown and members from the Tucson Fire Department responded to a report of a serious injury collision involving a pedestrian and a vehicle at N. Alvernon Way and E. Bellevue St.
Upon arrival, officers located a 72 year old adult male pedestrian with obvious signs of trauma. Paramedics immediately transported Mr. Donald Rieffel to Banner University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. The adult male driver of the vehicle was not injured.
Detectives from the Tucson Police Department Traffic Investigations Unit responded to the scene to continue the investigation. They were able to determine the driver of a black 2009 Mercedes was southbound, in the curb lane, on Alvernon Way approaching E. Bellevue St. when he struck the pedestrian who was running westbound on E. Bellevue St. across Alvernon Way in an unmarked crosswalk. Speed does not appear to be a factor in the collision and there were no signs of impairment from the driver of the Mercedes. No citations have been issued at this time. Detectives are continuing the investigation.
On October 1, 2016, the pedestrian succumbed to injuries sustained in the collision and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Next of kin has been notified. This pedestrian death was the 11th so far this year one more than the same period in 2015