A 69-year-old man was killed late Wednesday night after a car struck him on a busy stretch of 44th Street in east Phoenix, authorities said. The collision happened around 9:24 p.m. near the 1100 block of North 44th Street and left the man fatally injured at the scene.
Responding officers found the victim unresponsive and later identified him as Joseph Valentino Jr., 69. Phoenix Fire Department personnel pronounced him dead, and police say his family has been notified, according to Your Valley. The report included a photo credited to the Phoenix Police Department.
Investigation under way
Phoenix police say the collision remains under investigation and officers briefly shut down the area while they documented the scene and collected evidence. The department’s media-relations page regularly posts fatal-collision advisories and related guidance for reporters and the public, which can be found through Phoenix Police.
Pedestrian safety in Arizona
Arizona recorded 1,228 total traffic fatalities in 2024, including 263 pedestrians, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Those numbers mean pedestrians made up roughly one in five traffic deaths statewide, underscoring the ongoing safety issues playing out on city streets and state routes…