Tragic Accident Claims Lives of Three University of Arizona Students
On Thursday night, a devastating incident occurred involving a 19-year-old driver who was impaired and speeding. The driver, behind the wheel of a Porsche, struck three University of Arizona students at a marked crosswalk near the campus before fleeing the scene.
Tucson police identified the driver as Louis John Altar. He has been charged with three counts of second-degree murder and one count of leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
The incident took place around 11 p.m. when officers from the Tucson Police Department (TPD), along with the University of Arizona Police Department (UAPD) and local firefighters, responded to reports of multiple pedestrians hit at the intersection of North Euclid Avenue and East Second Street.
Upon arrival, emergency personnel pronounced Sofia Akimi Troetel, 21, and Josiah Patrick Santos, 22, dead at the scene. The third student, 21-year-old Katia Rosaura Castillo Mendoza, was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries but sadly passed away on Saturday.
The University of Arizona has confirmed that all three individuals were students. In a statement, school officials expressed their deep sorrow over the loss: “We extend our deepest sympathies to their families, friends, loved ones, and all those grieving the young lives tragically cut short. The University is providing support and resources to those affected by this heartbreaking loss.”
According to police, evidence indicated that Altar was driving a 2019 Porsche Boxster at over the 30 mph speed limit when he approached the marked crosswalk where Troetel, Santos, and Mendoza were walking. The vehicle did not stop, resulting in the tragic collisions.
Altar later turned himself into Tucson authorities on Friday morning. An evaluation by a member of the Impaired Driving Enforcement Unit revealed that he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash. Police highlighted that “Mr. Altar’s impairment, speeding, and failure to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk were the main contributing factors to this collision.” They added that the investigation is ongoing, with potential for more information to be released in the future.
Altar has since been booked at the Pima County Adult Detention Center but managed to post a $250,000 bond. Following the tragedy, Santos’ mother started a GoFundMe campaign, reflecting on her son’s relationship with Troetel. She described the couple as vibrant and full of potential, both taken too soon from the world. “The world feels darker without their light,” she wrote.
As of Saturday night, the campaign had raised nearly $24,000, as the community rallied to support the grieving families. Notably, Tucson has recorded 26 pedestrian deaths this year, surpassing the total of 25 pedestrian fatalities in all of 2024.
