Patagonia man arrested in connection with fatal SR 77 incident in Tucson, DPS says

Detectives with the Arizona Department of Public Safety's Vehicular Crimes Unit arrested Jack Crawford, 52, of Patagonia, Arizona, on March 9, 2026, for failure to stop at the scene of an accident involving death, in connection with a fatal incident in Tucson in September 2025.

The investigation determined that on Sept. 7, 2025, Michael Stewart, 37, was riding in the bed of a pickup truck driven by Crawford when he fell from the vehicle near SR 77 and Golder Ranch Road. Stewart sustained fatal injuries and was later found deceased in the roadway by passing motorists. Detectives determined that Crawford did not stop to render aid and never reported the incident to law enforcement.

Through continued investigative work, VCU detectives located Crawford in Patagonia, where he was arrested without incident.

The DPS release said the arrest reflects the persistence of the Vehicular Crimes Unit detectives, whose thorough investigative efforts help provide answers for families and pursue accountability for those responsible for criminal activity.