SURPRISE, AZ — A landscaper was hit and killed by a vehicle while working Thursday morning in Surprise.
Surprise police say a landscaping team was working adjacent to the roadway when one of the men, 60-year-old Feliciano Sanchez-Medina, was struck by a passenger vehicle traveling east on Mountain View Boulevard near Colonnade Way around 8 a.m.
Sanchez-Medina was taken to the hospital but did not survive.
Karla Sanchez-Zarate says her dad came to the U.S. from Mexico at 18 years old and eventually became a U.S. citizen.
“That was the American dream. That’s what he was here for,” Karla said.
Now, just days before Christmas, they’re mourning his loss.
"It's devastating because I don't get it. How someone could not see cones. How someone could not see a yellow vest. How someone could not see a white truck in front of them. Now, my dad is not here.”
Now the family is sharing their memories of who Feliciano was.
"He loved his cats. He loved his animals. If you ask anyone in the neighborhood, they'd say he was the humanitarian for cats and dogs,” Karla said.
Police say the investigation is ongoing but it does not appear that drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.
It’s unclear if the driver involved will face any charges.
The family is hoping to raise funds for Feliciano's funeral and other expenses if anyone feels inclined to donate.
