11/16/2025 A bicyclist was killed when a driver ran a red light at an “activated” HAWK crossing at East Speedway Boulevard and North Richey Boulevard.

This is the only fatality I am aware of that has ever occurred at an activated HAWK crossing.

Police have already signaled there will be no serious charges (“The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene…” and “determined she was not impaired”. At the completion of TPDs investigation, it will probably be forwarded to the county attorney, who will decline charges, because that’s what they do when someone is killed by a not impaired driver. That will bring it back to the city attorney for consideration of misdemeanor (or civil charges, like just a traffic ticket).

I wondered, but never figured out, if 28-672 (causing death by traffic violation, a criminal misdemeanor) applies. It would apply if a driver ran a “regular” red light in violation of 28-645A3a, which is running a steady-red. HAWK signal cycle is flashing yellow,  steady red, then to blinking red before going dark.

There is notable reluctance of city prosecutors, for one reason or another, to not bring the criminal charge.

This 1998 analysis prepared by the Tuscon City Attorney’s office may have some relevance; however that case did not involve a signal.

Bicyclist dies after crash in Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The Tucson Police Department and the Tucson Fire Department responded to a collision involving a bicyclist at the intersection of East Speedway Boulevard and North Richey Boulevard Sunday morning, November 16.

Despite life-saving measures the bicyclist identified as, 41-year-old Jennifer Nicole Hall, was pronounced dead at the scene.

TPD detectives found that a 2021 GMC Terrain was going eastbound on Speedway in the middle lane when the 55-year-old driver failed to yield to the bicyclist.

Hall was crossing in a activated HAWK pedestrian crosswalk displaying a solid red for vehicle traffic. She was wearing helmet at the time of collision.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

TPD officers from the DUI unit evaluated the vehicle driver and determined she was not impaired.

Detectives say that failure to yield by the GMC driver is the primary contributing factor. The investigation remains ongoing, and no citations or charges have been issued at this time.

What’s up with HAWK crossings?

City of Tempe within the last year or two has added two pedestrian (and/or bike) crossings mid-block; one on Warner @ Country Club alignment multiuse path (~ midway between Price and McClintock), and another on McClintock approx midway between Ray and Warner. In both these cases, the signals are traditional 3-stacked circular red-green-yellow lights; NOT a HAWK. I wonder why? Tempe has a number of HAWKS for years along the Western Canal where it crosses Rural, and McClintock. HAWKs favor drivers in the sense that the solid-red phase is very short, and once it’s flashing drivers can legally proceed if the coast is clear.

In any event, perhaps the thought is drivers will respond better to a tradition red-green-yellow signal head as opposed to the odd looking red-red-yellow(?).

(City of Tempe also appears poised to add a signal along Warner just east of Kyrene at a canal crossing, at what was formerly an unsignalized marked crosswalk with refuge median)

Mentioned in the comment below is the suprising fact that Tucson has 130 HAWKs, or at least I was surprised by how many there are.