Police Investigate Possible Hit-and-Run After Man Found Deceased Near 23rd Avenue and Baseline Road
PHOENIX, Ariz. (November 1, 2025) — The Phoenix Police Department is investigating a possible hit-and-run after a man was found unresponsive along 23rd Avenue near Baseline Road late Friday night. Detectives are working to determine what led to the incident, which claimed the life of an adult male pedestrian.
According to preliminary information from police, officers were dispatched to the area shortly after 11:20 p.m. following multiple 911 calls reporting a person lying in the roadway. When officers arrived, they discovered an adult male who appeared to have been struck by a vehicle. Emergency crews from the Phoenix Fire Department provided immediate medical assistance, but despite their efforts, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The victim’s identity has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office. Police described him only as an adult male, possibly in his 40s to 50s.
Investigators closed several lanes of Baseline Road near 23rd Avenue through the early morning hours as they processed evidence and searched for surveillance footage. Detectives with the Phoenix Police Department’s Vehicular Crimes Unit believe the vehicle involved may have fled the scene before officers arrived.
“Based on the initial evidence, it appears the man was walking along or attempting to cross the roadway when he was struck,” said Sgt. Melissa Soliz, a department spokesperson. “We are currently reviewing traffic-camera footage and speaking with potential witnesses to identify the vehicle and driver responsible.”
Officers noted that the area where the incident occurred is dimly lit and bordered by both residential neighborhoods and commercial properties. Residents nearby told police they heard a loud thud followed by screeching tires but did not see the vehicle involved.
“We’ve had several near misses on this stretch of Baseline,” said Daniel Ramos, who lives a block away. “Drivers often speed through here after dark. It’s heartbreaking that someone lost their life like this.”
The Phoenix Street Transportation Department confirmed that the section of Baseline Road between 19th Avenue and 27th Avenue is currently scheduled for a lighting-improvement project slated to begin next spring.
Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information about a damaged vehicle leaving the area to contact the Phoenix Police Department or remain anonymous by calling Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377). Tipsters could be eligible for a cash reward.
Authorities emphasized the importance of driver awareness and pedestrian safety as hit-and-run cases continue to rise across Maricopa County. According to data from the Arizona Department of Transportation, more than 15% of pedestrian fatalities in 2024 involved a driver who left the scene.
As investigators work to identify both the victim and the vehicle involved, community members have begun leaving candles and flowers near the intersection in tribute. “We don’t know who he was yet, but he was someone’s loved one,” said Ramos. “We want his family to know the neighborhood cares.”
The Phoenix Police Department said updates will be provided as more information becomes available.