Fifty-year-old Carlos Cortez Hernandez was hit by a car, which did not stop.
âUnfortunately, the male did not survive his injuries,â said Nik Rasheta, a Mesa Police Department spokesman. âWe also located the vehicle involved and the investigation is ongoing.â
On the Facebook home of the group Bike Mesa, people were saddened but not
surprised.
âOnce again, Country Club, where bicyclists and pedestrians are targets and prey,â commented Alycia de Mesa-Weeden. âWe hate this road with a passion to try to navigate safely.â
Luis Montes suggested this was an avoidable situation:
âThe blame goes on the driver and everyone in our local government that hasnât worked towards safe transportation.â
Police reports tell the chilling story, in bland language:
âUnit two was northbound on South Dobson Road just south of Southern Avenue in lane number two. Unit one, a pedestrian, was crossing in the crosswalk against the light from west to east.Â
âThis crosswalk has a traffic light but the signal was green for northbound traffic. The pedestrian crossed the street in the darkness of night and was struck by unit two going northbound.Â
âThe pedestrian was taken to Banner Desert Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.â
The average road vehicle weighs about 4,000 pounds with top speeds of around 120 mph.