Police identify two victims of Tucson hit-and-run homicide

Tucson police have released the names of the two victims killed in a deliberate hit-and-run on New Year’s Day.

Cindy Burnett, 47, and Patrick Balbastro, 32, were killed and a 43-year-old woman is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

At about 3:45 a.m. Wednesday, a cab dropped off a man and woman in the 2200 block of East Sunland Vista, near East 36th Street and South Campbell Avenue. Shortly after the cab left, a white sedan pulled up and a fight broke out between the driver and the people on the street.

One of the men involved in the fight got in the car and ran over a man and two women. Police believe one of the women was an occupant of the white sedan.

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Burnett died at the scene. Balbastros was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The hit-and-run driver drove away from the scene and abandoned the car in a desert area west of Campbell Avenue and Sunland Vista. Police searched but did not find him.

Later in the day, police detained a man for questioning in the case. He was taken into custody at a home in the 200 block of East Adams Street, near North Sixth Avenue.

Check back with StarNet for updates.