PHOENIX — Editor's Note: The above video is from an earlier broadcast.
The Phoenix Police Department has arrested a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a 55-year-old father a couple of weeks before Christmas.
Lewis Kemp died on Dec. 11 after his truck was struck near 75th Avenue and Williams Street by a car that failed to yield to a stop sign. The car's driver allegedly fled on foot, leaving Kemp to die at the scene.
Kemp left behind two children and was known by his family for loving the Christmas season.
“He loved to do his Christmas decorations. That was his favorite holiday of the year. So, he was ready for Christmas,” Arminda Muñoz, Kemp's fiancé, told 12 News earlier this month.
On Tuesday, Phoenix police announced investigators had arrested Luis Enrique Mendez, 26, as a suspect in the hit-and-run case. The suspect was allegedly driving a stolen car at the time of his arrest, police said.
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Deaths on Arizona roadways:
Data from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows that roadway fatalities have been gradually rising in Arizona over the last decade:
2011: 825 deaths
2012: 821 deaths
2013: 844 deaths
2014: 774 deaths
2015: 895 deaths
2016: 952 deaths
2017: 1,000 deaths
2018: 1,010 deaths
2019: 982 deaths
2020: 1,057 deaths
Driving Safety Tips:
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) offers driving tips to help keep people safe on the road.
"There’s always room for improvement when it comes to road safety," the department said on its website.
ADOT's suggestions include:
Don’t speed or drive aggressively
Never drive while under the influence of substances
Avoid distractions while driving
Wear your seatbelt and make sure all passengers are doing the same
When an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road, move over
Stay extra aware in work zones
Be prepared for weather conditions that make driving dangerous