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On the morning of November 1, 2025, the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner notified TPD that the third pedestrian did not survive her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. She has been identified as 21-year-old Katya Rosaura Castillo Mendoza. Her family has been notified of her passing.
Mr. Artal’s criminal charges will be amended to 3 counts of 2nd Degree Murder, and 1 count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Death. This investigation remains ongoing. The original media release from October 31, 2025, is included below.
Fatalities Year to Date
For 2024 - 74 For 2025 - 78
Pedestrian - 25 Pedestrian - 26
Bicycle - 7 Bicycle - 2
Motorcycle - 18 Motorcycle - 22
Vehicle - 24 Vehicle - 28
________________ Officer James Horton, November 1, 2025 ________________
On October 30, 2025, at approximately 11:00 p.m., officers from Operations Division West, the University of Arizona Police Department (UAPD), and members from the Tucson Fire Department responded to North Euclid Avenue and East Second Street regarding reports of multiple pedestrians hit by a vehicle. When officers and Tucson Fire Department personnel arrived, they located two pedestrians that were pronounced deceased at the scene. The two pedestrians have been identified as 21-year-old Sophia Akimi Troetel, and 22-year-old Josiah Patrick Santos. Their families have been notified of their passing. The third pedestrian was transported to a hospital with life threatening injuries where they remain in critical condition. The suspect vehicle that struck the pedestrians fled the scene prior to any first responder arrival. TPD detectives from the Traffic Investigations Unit and TPD Crime Scene Unit responded to continue the investigation.
Witness interviews, in conjunction with roadway and physical evidence, indicated that a 2019 Porsche Boxter was traveling northbound on Euclid Avenue approaching East Second Street above the posted 30 mile per hour speed limit. At that time, three pedestrians were walking eastbound across North Euclid Avenue in a marked crosswalk at East Second Street. The Porsche did not stop, struck the pedestrians, and fled the scene. As the investigation evolved, the driver of the Porsche turned himself into Tucson Police in the early morning hours of October 31, 2025.
A Tucson Police Officer with the Impaired Driving Enforcement Unit responded and evaluated the driver of the Porsche. It was determined that he was impaired by alcohol and or drugs at the time of the collision. The driver of the Porsche has been identified as 19-year-old Louis John Artal. Mr. Artal was charged with 2 counts of 2nd Degree Murder, 1 count of Aggravated Assault Serious Physical Injury, and 1 count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Death and was booked into the Pima County Jail.
Mr. Artal’s impairment, speeding, and failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk are the major contributing factors of this collision. This investigation remains ongoing, and any additional information may be released at a later date as it becomes available.
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