Richard Daniel Townsend dies in fatal Tucson car crash
Fatal Tucson car crash death of Richard Daniel Townsend
Tucson authorities have named the man killed after being hit while crossing Wilmot Road near his family on Saturday evening. The incident occurred shortly after 9:15 p.m. in the area just north of 22nd Street. The 34-year-old victim, Richard Daniel Townsend, was crossing the road with his family but wasn’t utilizing a marked pedestrian crossing. Eyewitnesses reported Townsend was behind his family when they crossed, the reason for his position unclear. According to the police news release, Townsend fell out of touch with his family and was struck by the driver of a 2007 BMW traveling northbound on the road. The driver immediately stopped their vehicle and is assisting police with the ongoing investigation. Law enforcement stated there was no indication the driver was under the influence at the time of the collision. No other individuals sustained injuries during the incident.
Tucson Police have indicated that jaywalking was identified as a significant contributing factor in this specific fatality, though the official investigation is still in progress. To provide context, TPD reported that up to this point in 2025, there have been 14 recorded pedestrian deaths. Comparatively, during the same period in 2024, the department noted 21 pedestrian fatalities had already been documented.
