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On the evening of April 27, 2025, officers from Operations Division East and members from the Tucson Fire Department responded to the intersection of South Prudence Road and East Eli Drive regarding a report of a collision involving a motorcyclist. When officers and TFD personnel arrived, they located the motorcyclist unresponsive in the roadway. The motorcyclist did not survive his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. The motorcyclist was identified as 39-year-old Dane Larsen Declemente. His family was located and notified of his passing. The other involved driver remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation. Traffic Detectives, Crime Scene Unit, and an officer from the Impaired Driving Enforcement Unit responded to the scene to continue the investigation.
Through witness interviews in conjunction with roadway evidence, officers and detectives determined that Mr. Declemente was traveling on his motorcycle southbound on Prudence Road near Eli Drive when he was struck head on by a 2005 Toyota Corolla. Roadway evidence and vehicle damage also indicated that the Corolla was traveling northbound on Prudence Road in the southbound lane of travel at the time of the collision and was traveling faster than the 35 mile per hour posted speed limit. Detectives noted that Mr. Declemente was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
The driver of the Corolla showed signs and symptoms of impairment by alcohol and or drugs. A DUI investigation was conducted and determined that the driver was impaired at the time of the collision and was placed under arrest as a result. He was identified as 22-year-old Gabriel John Townsend. Mr. Townsend was charged with Manslaughter and booked into the Pima County Jail where he is being held on a $1,000,000 bond.
Mr. Townsend’s failure to maintain his positioning in his lane of travel, his failure to control his speed, and his impairment were the major contributing factors in this collision. This investigation remains on-going and any additional information may be released as it becomes available.
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