A 21-year-old man is facing murder charges in the deaths of two people in a vehicle crash Thursday on East Golf Links Road, Tucson police said Friday.
Alexander Bondy was arrested and booked into the Pima County jail following his release from the hospital where he was treated for his non-life-threatening injuries, police said. He is facing two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Joel W. Cohen, 76, and Mary Jane Cohen, 77.
The crash occurred at about 2:40 p.m. on East Golf Links Road between East Aviation Parkway and East Ajo Way. Detective determined that a tan 2002 Buick Century being driven by Bondy was traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound when he side-swiped a guard rail and lost control of the car, according to a news release from Tucson police.
The Buick jumped the raised median into oncoming westbound traffic and struck nearly head-on a silver 2009 Toyota Camry occupied by the Cohens.
The Cohens were pronounced dead at the scene. Bondy was taken to the hospital for his injuries.
Police determined that speed and impairment appear to be factors in the crash.
There have been 35 traffic fatalities in Tucson this year, compared to 36 at this time last year.
