Police release name of pedestrian killed by truck rollover in south Phoenix park

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Police Department released the name of a woman killed in an April 8 south Phoenix wreck.

51-year-old Melissa Pennington hit by a truck that left the road near Alvord Lake, authorities said.

Officers responded to the collision near 35th Avenue and Baseline Road around 7:48 a.m., according to the Phoenix Police Department.

When police arrived at the scene, they found a pedestrian suffering from serious injuries. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died.

The driver of the truck involved in the collision remained on the scene and was later taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Preliminary information indicated the driver of the truck lost control, causing the truck to leave the roadway and hit a tree. After striking the tree, the truck rolled over and hit the woman, who was in the park, police said.

The driver was evaluated at the scene and showed no signs of impairment. However, speed may have contributed to the crash, according to authorities.

Potential charges will be determined after the investigation into the south Phoenix crash is complete.

This is an update to a story that was originally published on April 8, 2026.

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