The driver accused of fatally striking a pedestrian with his vehicle Thursday night in Tempe has been arrested on multiple charges, according to authorities.

John Valenzuela, 31, was arrested after the deadly crash, which occurred at about 9 p.m. Thursday, according to a release from the Tempe Police Department. Authorities said he was impaired when he struck and killed a 77-year-old woman while she attempted to cross a street.

It is unclear from records available Friday whether Valenzuela has obtained the services of a drunk driving attorney.

Police said Valenzuela was driving on Mill Avenue near Southern Avenue at about 9 p.m. Thursday when he struck a woman who was attempting to cross the street. The woman, identified by authorities only as a 77-year-old woman, died as a result of her injuries.

Additional details about the wreck and the events immediately preceding weren’t available Friday evening. It’s unclear whether Valenzuela or anyone else was injured as a result of the incident.

First responders determined Valenzuela was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the wreck. He was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to authorities.

The investigation is ongoing by the Tempe Police Department. If he has not already done so, Valenzuela will need to hire a drunk driving attorney to represent him during upcoming court proceedings.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.

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