Man Identified In Tucson East Side Collision

The Tucson Police Department is investigating a fatal vehicle collision that took the life of 22-year-old Austin Ortiz on Friday evening on Tucson’s East Side.

On November 3, 2017, at approximately 5:15 p.m., members of the Tucson Fire Department and TPD officers responded to a serious injury collision involving two vehicles at South Houghton Road and East Seven Generations Way. Upon arrival, Tucson Fire found one of the vehicles flipped over and fully engulfed in flames with the driver trapped inside. Fire fighters immediately began battling the fire and were able to extinguish the flames, but the driver, Mr. Ortiz, was pronounced deceased on scene.

Detectives were able to determine that a 1991 Chevrolet Camaro was traveling northbound on Houghton Road at a high rate of speed.

Witnesses on scene saw the Camaro weaving in and out of all three lanes of traffic and estimated his speed to be approximately 75-85mmph. As the Camaro approached the intersection of East Seven Generations Way, it collided with the front end of a 1999 Toyota Camry that was southbound on Houghton Road intending to make a left (eastbound) turn. The Camaro flipped over and caught on fire. The Camry spun over to the eastside of Houghton and onto a dedicated walking path.

The adult female driver of the Camry was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected during the collision. She was transported to Banner University Medical Center and is currently in critical, but stable condition.

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