On Thursday, March 12th, 2015 at 5:47 a.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office was called to a vehicle vs. pedestrian collision on Hunt Highway near Tumbling River Road, San Tan Valley. When deputies arrived on scene, they located the incident, which was just west of Tumbling River Road on the south side of Hunt Highway.
The driver of the passenger car was a 51-year-old male from San Tan Valley. The pedestrian, who was struck by the vehicle, was identified as Agustin Tavita (age 20 of Santa Ana, CA). Agustin was given emergency medical treatment at the scene and transported to Banner Ironwood Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Deputies from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Vehicle Crimes Unit responded to the scene to investigate.
Witness statements and evidence at the scene showed that the driver of the Chevy Cavalier passenger car was traveling eastbound on Hunt Highway in the through lane of traffic and was traveling at approximately 45 mph. Agustin and his brother Van Ah Mau Tivita (age 24 of Santa Ana, CA) were walking westbound in the through lane of eastbound traffic. The driver of the vehicle did not see the two men in the roadway and Agustin was hit.
The driver of the passenger car was not impaired and no criminal charges are pending.
The Medical Examiner’s Office will be conducting an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death and whether Agustin was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “This case was a tragic accident, which resulted from the two brothers walking directly in the middle of the lane of traffic. While this area does not have sidewalks or street lighting, pedestrians should never walk down the middle of the lane of traffic. Our sympathies go out to the Tavita family who lost their son and brother.”