Overview
- Phoenix police say an officer stopped 40-year-old Ruben Almanza just after 11:30 p.m. near 59th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road on suspicion of DUI.
- After a few minutes, Almanza drove off; the officer broadcast the vehicle description and direction to units and the department helicopter without initiating a chase.
- Shortly afterward, officers were notified of a collision near 75th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road.
- Detectives believe Almanza’s westbound car crossed into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle driven by 35-year-old Melvina Jones, who died at the scene.
- Almanza was taken to a hospital and later died, and detectives are conducting a full reconstruction to determine cause and contributing factors.