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Phoenix police arrest accused hit-and-run driver who killed skateboarder

Police say 24-year-old Matthew Carringer was riding a skateboard against traffic near 19th and Dunlap avenues when he was hit. The driver fled.

Phoenix police arrested a suspect for a hit-and-run crash that killed a man on a skateboard Saturday night.

According to the Phoenix Police Department, investigators found the suspected driver not far from the crash site and arrested 21-year-old Breyon Green.

Police identified the victim as 24-year-old Matthew Carringer, who died after he was hit by a car at 19th and Dunlap avenues around 7:40 p.m. Saturday night.

According to police documents, Green was traveling eastbound on Dunlap Avenue with several co-workers on their way to a party when his vehicle collided with Carringer, who was crossing Dunlap Avenue. Carringer was in the crosswalk but "was crossing the intersection against a 'do not walk' sign." The documents also said that Green told investigators that he had a green light.

One of Green's coworkers spotted Carringer and told Green to "look out" before the collision, according to court documents.

Police said Carringer was riding against traffic, but his mother, Teresa Scott, says that's because Carringer was also hit by a car from behind in July.

"He thought he'd stand a better chance if he could see them coming," Scott said.

Green did not stop, fled the scene and parked his car nearby. Court documents say Green told his friends he needed to get rid of the car, which had damage to the windshield, before walking away.

According to court documents, one of Green's coworkers told him, "you just killed that guy," after he struck Carringer. 

Green told police he fled the scene because he was scared. 

"This family's lost a lot that we're never going to be able to replace," Scott said.

Green faces one count of leaving the scene of a deadly crash. He is currently being held on a $35,000 bond. 

And while she takes solace that the man who hit her son is behind bars, Scott knows it won't bring back her son, who she says died doing what he loved.

"Our family has been devastated. Matthew made us whole. He'd bring sunshine into a room when there wasn't any," she said. 

Police said the investigation is still ongoing. 

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