What started as a single vehicle crash in Mesa last Friday has turned into a homicide investigation.
Police are asking for the public's help in obtaining information in the stabbing death of a 35-year-old Phoenix man who was found inside the pickup truck that crashed into a residence.
After police and emergency crews responded to the report of a pickup crashing into a residence at 7 E. McLellan Road about 11:30 p.m., officers discovered a man, later identified as Ramon Medina Gutierrez, inside gasping for air with a stab wound to his chest. The doors of the vehicle were locked, and after officers smashed a window to gain access to him, Gutierrez was transported to Scottsdale Healthcare Hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to police.
Witnesses said that prior to the crash, Gutierrez's vehicle was traveling south on Center approaching McLellan and suddenly swerved to the left across the northbound lanes and into the residence located on the southeast corner of Center and McLellan.
As a result of the crash, a brick was propelled through a front window of the residence and a child was cut from the shattered glass. The cut was minor and no other injuries were reported, police said.
Investigators currently have very little information as to where the victim was when he was stabbed and no suspects.
Anyone with information in this case can call Mesa police at (480) 644-2211 or Silent Witness at (480) 948-6377.
• Contact writer: (480) 898-6533 or msakal@evtrib.com
Contact writer: (480) 898-6533 or msakal@evtrib.com
Justin Beaver posted at 12:39 am on Sat, Jul 7, 2012.
I'm disappointed with this news. As of these days many of the major road accidents always involves big vehicles like truck. I believe that one of the main reason was big vehicles like this are hard to control especially if they exceed the speed limitation.
Shawn Turner posted at 9:59 am on Mon, Jul 9, 2012.
I strongly agree with you, most of the countries around the world have this problem also, the increasing number of accidents which involve trucks. Government officials should do something on this. Checking a truck and its parts before entering the city is a best way to start road safety.