Police say two men who were fishing at Silverbell Lake were struck Friday and killed by a friend who was backing up a vehicle so they could pack up their gear for the day.
Billy Cox, 79, and Michael Holguin, 62, were pronounced dead at the scene, said Sgt. Kimberly Bay, a Tucson Police Department spokeswoman.
The popular fishing lake is in Christopher Columbus Park, 4600 N. Silverbell Road, near West Sweetwater Drive on the city’s west side.
Detectives learned that Cox and Holguin had been at the park fishing for several hours with their friend. Both Cox and Holguin have difficulty walking and use walkers, and had been fishing from chairs or a seated walker.
Their friend went to the parking lot shortly before noon to retrieve a black 1999 Jeep Cherokee so the group could pack up.
As the friend backed the vehicle near Cox and Holguin, he hit the accelerator instead of the brake, Bay said.
The vehicle struck and dragged both men, said Bay. The friend stopped the vehicle, and other people at the lake came over to help with CPR.
Neither speed nor alcohol were factors in the crash, Bay said.
The driver wasn’t injured. His name wasn’t released by police.
There have been 26 traffic fatalities this year within the city limits, compared to 20 at this time last year, police data show.
