Man crossing Phoenix street with shopping cart killed by suspected drunk driver

A pedestrian died after being struck by an 18-year-old driver suspected of alcohol impairment Wednesday night, authorities said.

The collision took place near 44th and Bellview streets, north of the Loop 202 and south of McDowell Road, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Officers responded at 9:24 p.m. to the scene and found 69-year-old Joseph Valentino Jr. unresponsive.

Detectives with Phoenix PD’s Vehicular Crimes Unit determined that Valentino Jr. was pushing a shopping cart across 44th Street outside of the crosswalk before the collision. The driver remained on the scene.

The teen driver was evaluated for impairment and found to have signs and symptoms consistent with alcohol impairment, police said. He was taken into custody, and detectives got a search warrant for a blood sample to determine if he was intoxicated.

Authorities will make their final charging decisions once they find out the toxicology results.

There was also a 19-year-old man who was in the passenger’s seat. The crash left him with minor injuries.

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