A mother and her 7-year-old son died after being struck by a car this morning in midtown, Tucson police say.
The pair was crossing in a marked crosswalk on East Pima Street near North Swan Road about 7:30 a.m. when they were struck, said Sgt. Pete Dugan, a Tucson police spokesman.
The child, identified as Ethan Mentzer, was a second-grader at St. Cyril of Alexandria School, about a block from where he and his mother, Anna, were struck, according to a letter to parents from St. Cyril's principal, Ann Zeches.
They were walking to school,Β a statement from Salpointe Catholic High School on Facebook said.
Tucson Fire Department crews were the first to arrive at the crash scene and began rendering first aid to both the mom and her child.
Anna Mentzer, 37, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ethan died later at Banner-University Medical Center.
Dugan said the two were crossing Pima Street in a marked crosswalk when they were struck.
The woman driving the car that hit the pair stayed at the scene and cooperated with detectives.
She showed no signs of impairment, Dugan said.
Since January, there have been 24 pedestrian fatalities in the city.
Six of those have occurred since Sept. 27.
"The St, Cyril's school and parish family is working together to help everyone deal with this loss of the friend and classmate and his mother as well others in the family," said Steff Koeneman, spokeswoman for the Diocese of Tucson.
Counselors were on hand to speak to students Wednesday and would be back again Thursday, Koeneman said.
At the end of the school day, St. Cyril's held prayer service for students, parents and community members, with Bishop Gerald Kicanas in attendance, Koeneman said.
