Jesus Velazquez, 31, died Monday morning after he was struck by a fleeing driver near E. County 18 ½ Street and S. Avenue 3E in Yuma. Velazquez and a 28‑year‑old woman were standing beside their parked vehicles shortly before 6:30 a.m. when a red Mazda truck veered across lanes and slammed into the cars they had pulled off to the side of the road. The force of the impact hit both people as they stood on the shoulder.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene and quickly called for air ambulances. Velazquez was critically injured and later died from his wounds at a Phoenix‑area hospital. The woman suffered serious injuries and remains hospitalized as authorities continue to treat her condition.
Law enforcement officials say the driver of the red Mazda fled on foot after the crash. Deputies from the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office are searching for the suspect, following up on tips and leads as part of a hot‑pursuit investigation. Neighbors and early commuters on E. County 18 ½ remember hearing the chaos unfold in the quiet neighborhood just outside the city limits.
Friends and family have spoken quietly but with heavy hearts about Velazquez, describing him as a steady presence in the community. The sudden loss has rippled through those who knew him best, many of whom are now waiting for answers from law enforcement about the driver who left the scene.
Sheriff’s investigators say the case remains active and they are urging anyone who saw the crash or the fleeing suspect to come forward. Deputies continue to canvass nearby streets for surveillance footage and witness statements that might shed light on the driver’s movements before and after the crash.
The impact has left a hole in the community’s morning routine, as people process both the tragedy of a life cut short and the mystery of a driver still on the run. Authorities stress that even small pieces of information could help bring justice for Velazquez and closure to his loved ones.
In the meantime, residents along County 18 ½ Street are left with the memory of a quiet man taken too soon, and a stark reminder of how quickly a routine morning can turn into heartbreak.
