Arizona Woman Facing Felony Charges After Fleeing Fatal Hit and Run Scene in Tolleson

Gladys Woods, 58, faces charges for fleeing a deadly crash in Tolleson. Police say she panicked due to a suspended license and outstanding warrants.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 5:03 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from KOLD News 13

A Deadly Early Morning Collision in Tolleson

The West Valley community is mourning the loss of a pedestrian following a tragic incident that occurred shortly before dawn on Tuesday. According to the Tolleson Police Department, officers were dispatched to the intersection of 83rd Avenue and Van Buren Street around 6 a.m. after receiving reports of a person lying in the roadway. Upon arrival, emergency responders located a man face down in the street with life-threatening injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but medical staff were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Surveillance Evidence Reveals the Moments After Impact

Digital evidence has played a pivotal role in reconstructing the events that led to the victim's death. Investigators obtained surveillance footage that reportedly shows a Toyota RAV-4 traveling eastbound on Pierce Street. While a tree momentarily obscured the camera’s view of the actual impact, the vehicle reappeared in frame with the victim's body left behind in the road. According to police, the video captures the SUV pulling over, at which point the driver exited the vehicle to examine the rear of the SUV and looked back toward the injured man before choosing to drive away.

Husband’s Phone Call Leads to Suspect's Identification

The investigation took a significant turn roughly one hour after the crash when a man contacted police to report his wife's involvement. According to court documents, the man informed authorities that his wife, Gladys Woods, had been driving through the area and struck an individual who had allegedly stepped out in front of her vehicle. The husband reportedly told officers that Woods had panicked and left the scene. Following this communication, Woods and her husband returned to the area where the collision occurred, allowing investigators to inspect the vehicle.