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Surveillance sought in Mesa fatal hit-and-run
An East Mesa family is mourning the loss of Robert Hetrick, who was struck and killed by a vehicle while skateboarding in a shopping center parking lot. FOX 10's Nicole Krasean has the details.
MESA, Ariz. - A family is begging for a break in a deadly hit-and-run case out of Mesa.
What they're saying:
"Robert was amazing. He should not be gone this soon," said Brenda, Robert Hetrick’s mother.
Hetrick’s loved ones remember him as an outgoing, loving man, a huge Green Bay Packers fan, and a joy to be around.
"His quirkiness made everybody laugh," Brenda said.
Those loved ones have been in mourning since Memorial Day weekend.
Police release photo of truck connected to deadly Mesa hit-and-run
On May 23, Mesa police say 33-year-old Robert Hetrick was riding his skateboard when he was hit and killed by a vehicle in a parking lot near Stapley Drive and Baseline Road.
According to Mesa Police, 33-year-old Hetrick was skateboarding in the parking lot of the Mesa Grand Shopping Center around 11 p.m. on May 23 when he was hit by a car.
"There were witnesses on scene who were attempting to provide life-saving efforts. Officers took over trying to provide life-saving efforts until the Mesa Fire Department arrived and attempted to save this individual," said Robert Katz, a public information officer for the Mesa Police Department.
"We were just thankful that somebody came to his aide and he wasn’t alone," Brenda said.
Sadly, Hetrick died from his injuries. The suspect fled the scene.
Dig deeper:
Mesa Police say the suspect vehicle headed west out of the parking lot onto Stapley Drive. The last known movements of this vehicle show it entering the U.S. 60 highway’s westbound lanes.
Police say they’re now hoping to find some sort of footage showing where it went next. A photo of that truck entering the roadway shows it is described as a newer Ford F-150, either gray or silver in color.
"All possible cameras, our real-time crime center, every kind of surveillance we can find is what we’re searching for," Katz said.
The truck is described as a gray or silver Ford F-150. Police say its unknown if the truck sustained any damage in the collision. (Mesa PD)
What you can do:
But police and Hetrick's family need the public’s help.
"Somebody has to know a family member, a friend who possibly went out to dinner, went to the movies, on the Saturday of Memorial weekend. We are very sure that they’re nervous, and we just want them to do the right thing," Brenda said.
Hetrick's family says they'd love to personally thank the bystanders who helped him before first responders arrived.
Mesa Police investigators are looking for a newer gray or silver Ford F-150 involved in a fatal shopping center collision on May 23 that killed 33-year-old Robert Hetrick.
They also said they'd like to see more safety features added to the parking lot in the Mesa Grand Shopping Center, where they say they see cars zoom around across the lanes at higher speeds than are permitted in shopping center parking lots.
If you have any information regarding this hit-and-run, you're asked to call the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211.
Map of the area where the crash happened