Driver kept going with body on hood, Phoenix police say
10:45 PM CST on Thursday, December 25, 2003
PHOENIX – Three people were in custody Thursday night in connection with a bizarre hit-and-run early Christmas Day, authorities said.
A pedestrian was fatally struck near 24th Street and Broadway Road in south-central Phoenix about 5 a.m. Thursday, and the driver kept going with the body still on the car, Phoenix police said.
Armando Chacon was on his way to work when he saw the accident. He told KPNX-TV in Phoenix that he saw the car hit the man, then continue traveling with the man pinned to the hood.
Mr. Chacon said that he followed the car and told the driver – who eventually pulled over – that the man was on the hood. The unidentified driver took off, and Mr. Chacon said he then called police.
Police said they were able to locate the car, which was parked in the back yard of a nearby home. The pedestrian's body was found in a parking lot a few blocks away from the home, officials said.
Three people were taken into custody at the home. Police believe alcohol may have been a factor.
The case resembles that of Chante Mallard of Fort Worth, convicted in June of murder after she struck a homeless man with her car and left him to bleed to death on her windshield in October 2001.
Ms. Mallard, 27, a nurse's aide, subsequently attempted to dump the body of Gregory Biggs in a Fort Worth park. She testified at her trial that she was under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and ecstasy.
A jury of sentenced her to 50 years for murder and 10 years for tampering with evidence by dumping Mr. Biggs' body.
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/122603dntexazaccident.a5fca.html
