On Thursday February 15, 2018, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Tucson Police officers and members of the Tucson Fire Department responded to a report of a serious injury pedestrian collision in the area of N. Bear Canyon Road. and E. Tanque Verde Road. Deputies with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department were already on scene rendering first aid to an unresponsive male in the roadway.
The male was pronounced deceased shortly after their arrival.
Detectives responded to continue the investigation. They were able to determine that a large box truck was involved in the incident. The box truck was stolen from a local business earlier that day. The driver, 58-year-old James Massey, and three adult male passengers, were attempting to take the truck to Mt. Lemmon. As they approached the area of Bear Canyon and Tanque Verde, they began to have engine trouble and pulled over to cool the engine down. Two of the passengers got out of the vehicle.
After a short time, Mr. Massey started the truck again and began to drive northbound on Bear Canyon, without the two passengers that exited the truck. Both men attempted to climb back into the truck, but fell off as it was making a U-turn. One of the men, in his late 60’s, struck his head on the roadway and was later pronounced deceased on scene.
Mr. Massey continued to drive away, but was stopped by a Pima County Sheriff Deputy a few blocks from the scene. Mr. Massey displayed signs and symptoms of impairment and a DUI investigation was conducted. Mr. Massey was arrested and booked into the Pima County Jail on Auto Theft charges. DUI Charges are pending toxicology results. The investigation is ongoing .
The name of the deceased male is being withheld, pending next of kin notification.