Woman killed in Phoenix hit-and-run crash; 18-year-old arrested

PHOENIX - Phoenix Police are investigating a hit-and-run crash that left a woman dead early Sunday morning, while investigators say the man responsible is behind bars.

Just after 4 a.m. at 71st Avenue and Thomas Road, officers responded to reports of a serious crash. When they got there, they found a woman lying on the roadway with "obvious signs of trauma" and two cars that had crashed.

23-year-old Rubi Lopez Lopez died at the scene.

It appears Lopez Lopez was the passenger in the car, and the driver is OK.

"The driver of the second vehicle got into another uninvolved car and left the scene. Patrol officers interviewed witnesses and were able to locate the driver, 18-year-old Saul Figueroa, who was taken into custody at his home," Phoenix Police said.

It appears to investigators that Lopez Lopez and the driver were crossing 71st Avenue on a green light when Figueroa ran the red light and crashed into them.

Detectives responded to the scene and learned the vehicle Lopez was in was heading eastbound on Thomas Road and crossed 71st Avenue on a green light just before the collision. Figueroa’s vehicle was heading northbound on 71st Avenue and ran the red light before crashing into Lopez’s vehicle. 

"Figueroa was believed to be impaired while driving the vehicle," police said. He's booked into jail on suspicion of manslaughter.