A 74-year-old woman died after being struck by a vehicle Monday morning while walking near the I-19 southbound off-ramp and Esperanza Boulevard in Green Valley, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. The woman and a male companion were crossing the roadway when the vehicle hit them, with the woman sustaining critical injuries that later proved fatal, officials said.
She was walking with a male companion when both were struck by a vehicle at approximately 9:34 a.m. Monday near the Interstate 19 southbound off-ramp and Esperanza Boulevard in Green Valley, officials said. Both pedestrians were crossing the roadway near or in the crosswalk at the intersection when the driver struck them, according to statements from PCSD detectives.
The woman who died was identified by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department as 74-year-old Barbara Jones.
Emergency responders from the Drexel Heights Fire District transported Jones and the male pedestrian to a local hospital. Jones was initially reported in critical condition, while the man suffered non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. The sheriff’s department later confirmed that Jones died from the injuries sustained in the crash. The male pedestrian survived and remained in stable condition, according to PCSD.
The driver involved was interviewed by detectives from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department traffic unit, who indicated the driver may not have noticed the pedestrians until moments before impact. The vehicle was traveling through the intersection area at the time of the collision. No injuries to the driver were reported by authorities. PCSD also stated that impairment was ruled out as a factor in the crash.
Following the incident, Esperanza Boulevard was closed west of Interstate 19 to facilitate the investigation, according to a traffic advisory from the sheriff’s department. Deputies cited the driver for causing serious physical injury by moving violation, an allegation that the driver’s traffic violation directly led to severe injuries in the collision. No felony charges or arrests were announced at the time, and any further legal action would be subject to review by the Pima County Attorney’s Office, PCSD said.
The collision adds to a series of recent fatal traffic incidents investigated by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department involving pedestrians and motorists. In a separate crash, 62-year-old Andrea Harris died after her SUV was struck by a semi-truck at South Rita Road and Melpomene Way; speed and impairment were not factors in that case, officials said. Another fatal crash involved a speeding Dodge Charger on Aviation Parkway near Alvernon Way, where 26-year-old Nicole Gutierrez died after being ejected from the vehicle. Additionally, a two-vehicle collision at East River Road and North Craycroft Road resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman who made an improper left turn in front of a dump truck, according to PCSD.
These incidents reflect ongoing traffic-related fatalities in Pima County, involving both pedestrians and drivers across multiple major roadways, according to sheriff’s department records. The investigation into the crash that claimed Barbara Jones’ life remains active as authorities continue to review evidence and statements.
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