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Phoenix police officer killed in collision
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A Phoenix police officer was killed in a car collision early Saturday while he was en route to an emergency call, according to authorities.
Officer Shane Figueroa, 25, was driving a police cruiser at 1:22 a.m. when another vehicle attempted to turn in the northbound lane of 19th Avenue and collided with his vehicle. He was responding to an emergency call of gunshots being fired, according to a police report.
The report states that as Figueroa approached S. Roeser Road, a small pickup truck was traveling south with two occupants, including driver Jose Rivas Gonzalez. The passenger was not identified by authorities. The report states that the white pickup truck turned left in front of Figueroa’s police cruiser as he was traveling north.
The white pickup collided with Figueroa’s vehicle, which spun around and eventually crashed into a block wall, according to the report.
Figueroa was fatally injured during the crash and he was later pronounced dead at St. Joseph’s Hospital, according to the report. The driver of the white pickup had minor injuries and the passenger had serious injuries. Both were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
According to investigators, alcohol is suspected as a factor in the collision.
Gonzalez was booked into jail for one count of manslaughter in the death of Figueroa, and one count of aggravated assault in connection to his injured passenger, according to the report.
Gonzalez was also booked into jail for four warrants issued for various charges involving incidents in other jurisdictions, the report stated.
The collision is still under investigation. No further information was available Saturday.
Figueroa had served less than three years as a Phoenix police officer, and he is survived by his wife and a 3-month-old baby.
Check back at evtrib.com for more updates.
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