Two college students in Arizona have died and another is in critical condition after allegedly being hit by a car while walking on a crosswalk at night.
The Tucson Police Department (TPD) claimed in a news release that officers responded to complaints of many people being hit by a car between North Euclid Avenue and East Second Street approximately 11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31.
Officers arrived to the location and discovered two people dead: Sophia Akimi Troetel, 21, and Josiah Patrick Santos, 22.
According to KOLD-TV, they attended the University of Arizona. A third individual, who was not recognized, was taken to the hospital in severe condition after suffering “life-threatening injuries.”
“The suspect vehicle that struck the pedestrians fled the scene prior to any first responder arrival,” police stated in their statement.
Detectives discovered that a 2019 Porsche Boxter was speeding northbound on Euclid Avenue at speeds greater than the posted limit of 30 mph.
The three individuals were crossing the street simultaneously at a marked intersection. “The Porsche did not stop, struck the pedestrians, and fled the scene,” the investigating officer added.
The driver of the Porsche, 19-year-old Louis John Artal, eventually surrendered to police in the “early hours” on October 31, according to the TPD. He was evaluated by an officer from the Impaired Driving Enforcement Unit, and police say he was “impaired by alcohol and or drugs at the time of the collision.”
Artal was detained and charged with two charges of second-degree murder, one count of aggravated assault with significant bodily injury, and one count of fleeing the scene of a fatal accident, according to police. He was booked into 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,” according to the Texas Highway Patrol.
Artal made his first court appearance on October 31, according to local news station KOLD-TV. According to his counsel, Artal attended the University of Arizona. The state also alleged throughout the hearing that Artal was originally from California.
Police said the investigation into the incident is still “ongoing” and that “any additional information may be released at a later date as it becomes available.”
