Michael Arvallo Killed in Phoenix Hit-and-Run Accident

Q: What are the charges for a hit-and-run in Arizona?

In Arizona, leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious injury is a felony. Drivers are required by law to stop, provide identification, and render aid if necessary. The specific charges and penalties depend on whether the driver was aware of the collision and the extent of injuries.

Q: What if the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk on McDowell Road?

Even if a pedestrian is outside a designated crosswalk, drivers still have a duty to exercise due care to avoid hitting them. While not using a crosswalk can affect fault in a civil case, it does not excuse a driver from leaving the scene of an accident after hitting someone.

Q: Does the driver’s intent matter in this Phoenix hit-and-run?

The driver's intent to hit Michael Arvallo is separate from the act of leaving the scene. The hit-and-run charge focuses on the failure to stop and provide aid, not necessarily on the cause of the initial collision itself. However, a driver's knowledge of hitting a person can affect how serious the hit-and-run charges.

Michael Arvallo killed in hit-and-run accident on McDowell Road, Phoenix, Arizona

A 44-year-old man died after being struck by a vehicle whose driver fled the scene, police say.

Michael Arvallo, 44, was killed in a hit-and-run crash near 67th Avenue and McDowell Road in Phoenix on Wednesday morning, according to the Phoenix Police Department. Around 7:30 p.m., police found Arvallo unresponsive upon arrival. The Phoenix Fire Department pronounced him dead at the scene. Preliminary information indicates Arvallo was crossing McDowell Road just west of 63rd Avenue, not using a crosswalk, when a vehicle struck him. The driver did not remain at the scene. Police later located the involved vehicle, but the driver was no longer there. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact police or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377 or 480(WITNESS)/480(TESTIGO).

Police are investigating the hit-and-run death of Michael Arvallo, who was struck while not in a crosswalk on McDowell Road. The driver left the scene before police arrived. the crash highlights legal questions that often come up in hit-and-run crashes.

Cristina Perez, an attorney at Perez Law Group, noted the role of driver attention in crashes. "What scares me is how a pilot can fly a perfectly good plane into the ground because of poor visibility," Perez said. "This happens far too often in general aviation when a pilot wasn't trained to fly in the clouds." This comparison suggests how a driver might fail to see a pedestrian outside a crosswalk, especially at 7:30 p.m. when Arvallo was hit.

What are the charges for a hit-and-run in Arizona?

What if the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk on McDowell Road?

Does the driver’s intent matter in this Phoenix hit-and-run?

Arizona wrongful death statute

Under A.R.S. § 12-611, surviving family members of a person killed in a traffic collision may file a wrongful death action in Arizona. The state applies pure comparative fault when determining liability. The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is 2 years from the date of death.

Recoverable damages under Arizona's wrongful death statute may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, funeral and burial expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering. Arizona law designates specific parties — typically a surviving spouse, children, or parents — as eligible to bring a wrongful death action.