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Follow-Up

Suspect arrested in fatal hit-and-run in Glendale

Posted 4/7/21

A suspect from a recent fatal hit-and-run in Glendale is under arrest, police say.

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Follow-Up

Suspect arrested in fatal hit-and-run in Glendale

Posted

A suspect from a recent fatal hit-and-run in Glendale is under arrest, police say.

At approximately 12:51 a.m. on March 30 officers responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of 99th Avenue and Maryland, which resulted in one vehicle going into the canal. A dark colored sedan was traveling westbound on Maryland when it failed to stop for the red traffic signal at 99th Avenue, according to Glendale police.

The sedan collided with a white pick-up truck that was traveling southbound on 99th Avenue. The impact from the collision caused the truck to roll onto its side and land inside the canal, killing the sole occupant adult female driver. The driver of the truck has been identified as 50-year-old Leauna Christensen, a Phoenix resident.

The occupants of the sedan were witnessed allegedly walking away from the accident westbound on Maryland Avenue. The driver left his wallet in the vehicle, and officers responded to his residence where evidence of the collision was located, and he was placed under arrest.

The hit and run suspect driver has been identified as Rudy A. Valdez Herrera, a 23-year-old Phoenix resident. He was transported to a local hospital and treated for a non-life threatening injury.

On April 7, Mr. Valdez Herrera self-surrendered and was booked into jail on failure to remain on scene of a fatal accident, a class 2 felony.

Impairment is being investigated at this time and the investigation is ongoing for additional criminal charges, police say.