lights and siren

An elderly man died Monday, June 26, from injuries suffered a week earlier when he was struck by a truck in a crosswalk on the city's north side, police said.

The victim has been identified as Ruben Ramirez, 82, said Sgt. Kimberly Bay, a Tucson Police Department spokeswoman.

On June 20 shortly before noon, Ramirez was struck by a truck at West Grant Road and North Oracle Road, Bay said. Tucson Fire Department paramedics treated and took Ramirez to Banner-University Medical Center Tucson where he died from his injuries. Ramirez had struck his head on the road, Bay said.

Investigators found out that a driver of a black 2003 Ford Ranger truck was headed west on Grant and stopped for a red traffic light at Oracle. The driver intended to make a north turn from Grant onto Oracle, and was looking south waiting for traffic to clear, said Bay.

Ramirez was crossing Grant from north to south in the crosswalk and was truck by the driver as he began his turn at about 5 mph, Bay said.

The driver stopped and called 911. Neither speed or alcohol were factors in this crash, said Bay. The investigation is continuing.

Since January, there have been 30 traffic fatalities in the city, compared to 29 at this time last year, police data shows. Β 


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Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at cduarte@tucson.com or 573-4104. On Twitter: @cduartestar