The quiet stretch of Interstate 19 near Tucson turned into a heartbreaking scene early Tuesday morning when 19-year-old Jonathan Warren of nearby Sahuarita lost his life in a hit-and-run crash. The young man’s sudden death has left family, friends, and neighbors stunned, struggling to make sense of a life cut short far too soon.
Authorities say the incident happened around 1:39 a.m. on March 3 along Interstate 19 near kilometer marker 76. State troopers had first received reports that a man was walking in the travel lanes close to kilometer marker 78. When officers arrived, they found Warren lying in the median lane, already dead from injuries believed to have been caused by a passing vehicle.
The scene was unsettlingly quiet. No vehicle remained at the crash site, and investigators found no witnesses who had actually seen the collision. Troopers began combing the roadway for clues, searching the dark stretch of highway for anything that could explain what happened in those early morning moments.
During that search, investigators discovered several pieces of debris scattered along the roadway. The fragments pointed to a possible suspect vehicle: a Mercedes Sprinter van manufactured between 2018 and 2025. The parts appeared to come from the front driver’s side area, giving detectives their first real lead in the case.
Within hours, a man stepped forward. Authorities say 57-year-old De Leon Gonzalez of Tucson contacted the Sahuarita Police Department and told officers he believed he might have been involved in the crash. Investigators later interviewed him and located a Mercedes Sprinter van with fresh damage at a business owned by Gonzalez.
The van was taken into custody as evidence while investigators continued examining what happened on the highway. Gonzalez was later charged with failing to remain at the scene of a fatal collision. He is currently being held at the Pima County Jail with bond set at $40,000.
Back in Sahuarita, the focus has shifted to remembering the young man at the center of the tragedy. Those who knew Jonathan Warren describe a teenager with his whole life ahead of him. Now the community is left holding onto memories while waiting for answers about the final moments that led to his death on a dark stretch of highway outside Tucson.
