On July 15, 2017, just before 6:00 p.m., officers from Operations Division Midtown and members from the Tucson Fire Department responded to the report of a serious injury hit and run collision on E. Golf Links Rd. and N. Swan Rd. Upon arrival, they located an adult male with obvious injury inside an overturned truck. Once extricated, the male was taken to a local area hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Officers on scene quickly learned the other vehicle fled the scene immediately after the collision. The vehicle was described as a full size red or maroon Dodge Ram truck. The suspect vehicle information was placed on social media given to media outlets. The Tucson Police Department began receiving multiple tips and leads as to the location of the vehicle.
Detectives from the Tucson Police Department Traffic Investigations Unit responded to the scene to continue the investigation. They interviewed witnesses and collected evidence. Shortly before 9:00 p.m. officers from Operations Division East received a report of a stolen maroon Dodge Ram truck. The officers and detectives responded and spoke with the reporting party. They were able to get a photograph of the truck which was also placed on social media and given to media outlets. The detectives learned a male called the owner of the truck and advised to report the truck stolen. They were able to determine the truck was not stolen but 36-year-old Francisco Santos Dorame was the last known driver.
The detectives were able to make contact with Mr. Dorame who subsequently turned himself in to police without incident. He also provided the location of the truck. The officers and detectives responded to the desert area of the southwest corner of Broadway Blvd. and Rosemont Blvd. where they located the truck.
The detectives learned the adult male driver of a white 1997 Ford Ranger pickup truck was westbound on Golf Links Rd. on a green light through S. Swan Rd. Mr. Dorame was traveling eastbound on Golf Links in the median lane approaching N. Swan Rd. in a maroon 2003 Doge Ram 1500 truck. Mr. Dorame pulled into the outside left turn lane cutting off several vehicles that were waiting for westbound traffic to clear. He then made a northbound turn onto Swan Rd., striking the driver of the Ford broadside. The collision caused the Ford to roll and land on it roof on the northwest curb area. Mr. Dorame fled the scene northbound on Swan Rd.
The driver of the Ford remains in the hospital with significant injuries. Mr. Dorame was arrested and booked into the Pima County Jail on the following charges:
- Aggravated Assault with Serious Physical Injury (A Class 4 Felony)
- Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (A Class 4 Felony)
- Leaving the Scene of an Injury Accident (A Class 6 Felony)
The Tucson Police department would like to thank the media for helping get the description and photograph of the suspect vehicle out so quickly and all of the citizens that called in to report what they saw related to this collision or possible location of the suspect vehicle. With the help of everyone, we were able to track down the person responsible for this collision within a few hours. Thank you Tucson!