PARADISE VALLEY, AZ — Two men were hit and killed while tending to an injured dog in the roadway near Tatum Boulevard and Lincoln Drive Sunday night.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officials say the incident started around 6:40 p.m. when 47-year-old Nooraly Lalji struck a dog in the roadway. Lalji reportedly turned around after the collision and got out to help the dog. John Wintersteen, 78, reportedly came out of his nearby home to help the dog as well.
DPS says while tending to the animal, Lalji and Wintersteen were struck by a Lexus RX. A Nissan Sentra then hit at least one of the men after they had already been struck.
Both men died from their injuries at the hospital.
The investigation is ongoing. DPS says impairment is not believed to have been a factor in the incident.
One of the men, Wintersteen, has since been identified as a former police chief of the Paradise Valley Police Department.
In a statement, the department wrote in part:
"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our former Chief, Chief John Wintersteen, and another valued community member in a tragic traffic collision last night. Chief Wintersteen served our town honorably from 1995 to 2009, leaving a lasting impact on both the Police Department and the community."
