Tower Down: 06.10.19 (AZ) UPDATED 06.28.19

[TowNews]

Updated 06.12.19 -

 

One of the two victims killed Monday night in a hit-and-run crash on Tucson's north side was an Amado truck driver.

 

Richard "Rick" Struble, 57, worked for Luna's Towing for more than 20 years. Owner Jesse Luna said Struble  managed the business when he was on vacation.

 

 

Authorities are searching for a driver who police say fatally struck two men and then fled the scene on Tucson's north side Monday night.

 

Shortly before 9:50 p.m., the driver was traveling along West Simmons Road when they lost control, crossed into Discount Tire and hit the two men in the parking lot at 3760 North Oracle Road, near Oracle and Prince roads, said Sgt. Pete Dugan, a Tucson Police Department spokesman. 

 

One of the men was a tow truck driver helping the other man with his vehicle when the collision occurred, Dugan said. 

 

Dugan said one of the men was pronounced dead on scene. The other died shortly after arriving to a hospital.

 

Detectives have not released the names of the men.

Personnel from the Tucson police and Pima County Sheriff's departments are searching for the driver of the vehicle who fled on foot from the scene.

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

UPDATED: Tucson police ID alleged driver in fatal hit-and-run crash

 

Tucson police say they have identified the driver accused of killing two men in a hit-and-run pedestrian collision on the city’s north side June 10.

 

Officers are searching for Justin Lang, 32, who is wanted on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter in the crash that killed Ramon Murillo, 32, and Richard Struble, 57.

 

Lang is accused of losing control of a 2001 BMW 740iL eastbound on West Simmons Road and crashing into the two men in the parking lot of Discount Tire at 3760 N. Oracle Road, near West Prince Road, a police news release said.

 

Struble was a tow truck driver dropping off Murillo’s vehicle when the collision happened shortly before 10 p.m.

 

 

RESOURCE LINK

[Doreen ur Finance Lady]

OMG this is so sad! Praying they find out who did this.

[mushspeed]

That is tragic... our thoughts and prayers go out to the families ..

 

John.

[mooresbp]

Once again out hearts are broken and prayers don't seem to be enough

[rreschran]

We send our prayers to those involved. What a horrible tragedy.mi

 

[5towman]

Very tragic. Thoughts and prayers

[TowZone]

UPDATE:

 

Officers are searching for Justin Lang, 32, who is wanted on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter in the crash that killed Ramon Murillo, 32, and Richard Struble, 57.

[TowNews]

A tow truck procession is planned while a hit-and-run driver is still on the run

 

 

AMADO, Ariz. — Police are still looking for 32-year-old Justin Lang. They say he crashed his car killing two men in a discount tire parking lot on the 10^th. One of the victims was a tow truck driver who leaves behind a family, friends and a fiancé.

 

Mary Breijak says Rick Struble was the kind of guy that made faces out his tow truck window to make kids laugh, loved to fish, and had a voice as deep as the Jolly Green Giant's.

 

“He was a lot of fun, we're going to miss him,” said Mary.

 

Rick met Mary in Michigan. They had a lot of adventures over the last 12 years.

 

We decided to come back here, and we sold all our possessions together and we bought this rinky-dink RV and it took us 3 1/2 months to get here from Michigan because we would break down every 100 miles.”

 

They got engaged just three months ago.

 

“We were just starting to talk about weddings and stuff.”

 

Mary says Rick died doing a job he loved.

 

“Every six minutes a tow truck driver will die from a car running into them or an accident.”

 

Rick was in a discount tire parking lot dropping off a car for a customer when police say a hit and run driver lost control, plowed into the parking lot and fatally struck the two men. Mary says she is overwhelmed by the support she's gotten from the community.

 

“I am so honored. Rick would be embarrassed he's very modest. He'd be embarrassed, but I am so blown away the kindness of everyone blows me away. Thank you.”

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

"note there is an error in the story. It should read Every 6 days a Tow Truck Driver will die.

 

[Doreen ur Finance Lady]

I can't believe they haven't found Justin Lang yet. Praying they find him soon so he can pay for what he did. My heart goes out to Mary, his family and co-workers.

[kurjakk]

Hello everyone,

 

My name is Rick, i'm the son of the driver that died in this horrible accident.

 

I am happy to update this board with the following article: https://tucson.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/tucson-man-arrested-in-connection-with-hit-and-run-crash/article_3a13de0a-99c7-11e9-9ae7-77ecf65391ec.html

 

WE CAUGHT HIM!!

 

Thank you all for your prayers and support, it is amazing the communities that tradesmen/women create among themselves and their families.

 

Sincerly,

Rick Struble Jr.

[TowZone]

 

Tucson police have arrested a man in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed two men earlier this month.

 

Justin Lang, 32, was arrested Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of manslaughter. He was located at a home near East 30th Street and South Marc Drive, near East Golf Links and Pantano roads, Tucson police said in a news release.

 

On the night of June 10, Lang was allegedly driving eastbound on West Simmons Road at a high rate of speed when police say he crashed into a tow truck and the two men in a Discount Tire parking lot at 3760 N. Oracle Rd., near West Prince Road.

 

Ramon Murillo, 32, and Richard Struble, 57, were both killed. Struble was a tow truck driver dropping off Murillo's car, police said.

 

Lang is accused of fleeing the scene on foot.

 

He has been booked into the Pima County Jail and is being held on a $1 million bond. 

 

Lang previously served time in prison for aggravated assault, auto theft and a drug violation, according to court records