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Pedestrian killed after being struck by hit-and-run driver in west Valley, police say
Posted: 8:19 AM, Aug 31, 2018
Authorities are investigating a deadly hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian in the west Valley.
Police were called to the area of 43rd and Glendale avenues after receiving reports of a collision Friday morning.
When officers arrived at the scene, a woman, later identified as 67-year-old Rhonda Wakefield, was found dead in the roadway, officials said. It does not appear that she was in a crosswalk at the time of the collision.
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The driver did not stay at the scene after the crash, authorities said.
However, later Friday morning family members of the driver contacted police to report the 66-year-old woman, police said.
Investigators responded to the suspect's home to get statements from the drivers and recovered her 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier and other evidence linking her to the deadly crash.
The driver's name was not immediately released.
Pedestrian crashes across the Valley are on a record pace this year. The pedestrian fatality rate is 1.61 — nearly double the national average rate of 0.81.
The growing issue has led the City of Phoenix to create the Pedestrian Task Force to study crashes across the city.
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