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On Tuesday, January 14, just before 6:20 p.m., officers from Operations Division South were dispatched to the intersection of E. Benson Highway and E. Ajo Way for multiple reports of a vehicle collision. Upon arrival, Tucson Fire Department personnel evaluated the involved parties. The driver of a 2008 Ford F-150 was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police identified the driver as a 51-year-old male. His identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification. The driver of the other involved vehicle, who was identified as a 39-year-old male, was transported by TFD to Banner University Medical Center with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives from TPD’s Traffic Investigations Unit were called to the scene and took over the investigation.
Witness interviews conducted by officers and detectives determined that the F-150 was traveling eastbound on Benson Highway. The F-150 failed to stop for the red traffic light at Ajo and collided into a 2014 Honda Accord. Detectives believe the Honda was either making a left turn from westbound Ajo onto eastbound Benson Highway or making a U-turn from westbound Benson Highway to go east. Statements and roadway evidence indicated that the Ford was traveling faster than the posted speed limit.
Investigators noted an odor of alcohol coming from the driver of the Ford and multiple empty alcoholic beverages, believed to have come from the Ford, were spread throughout the crash site. Any impairment within the driver of the F-150 may be determined through future medical records. An officer from the Impaired Driver Enforcement Unit responded to the hospital and found that the driver of the Honda was not impaired at the time of the collision.
Failure to stop for a red traffic control signal and speeding by the Ford F-150 are the known contributing factors of the collision at this time, the investigation remains ongoing.
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