TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - The Tucson man hit and killed while changing a tire on Interstate 19 Thursday morning has been identified.
The family of Luis del Toro said he was helping a family friend when the accident happened and that he died doing what he loved.
Del Toro’s son said he owned LET Tire Shop on East Benson Highway.
“Doing service calls, this is all he’s done all his life,” said del Toro’s son, who is also named Luis. “(It) is sad, you know, doing something you love under the circumstances of recklessness of driving.”
Del Toro said his father was doing what he was known for and what the shop exemplifies: providing help to others at a time they need it most.
“Respected man, hard working. And a great father,” del Toro said of his dad. “I’m lost (for) words.”
Arizona DPS did not identify del Toro, but confirmed a 60-year-old man was working on a disabled vehicle when he was hit.
The Drexel Heights Fire District said that it caused a chain-reaction crash that involved five vehicles, one of which caught fire and burned.
DPS said an elderly driver was at the wheel the vehicle that hit del Toro, and that driver, along with one other person, was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
DPS said the driver who caused the crash has not been cited as of Friday.
The crash happened around 9:30 a.m., and the northbound lanes of I-19 were closed until 2 p.m.
The DHFD said when crews arrived on the scene, they found one vehicle on fire, one vehicle with heavy front-end damage, and two vehicles on their sides with entrapment.
Crews worked to put out the vehicle fire and rescue the victims from their vehicles.
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