Phoenix, AZ (May 29, 2026) – A woman lost her life Thursday morning after being struck by a Valley Metro bus near 59th Avenue and Van Buren Street in west Phoenix. The fatal crash was reported just before 5 a.m. near the southbound Loop 202 (South Mountain) on-ramp.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, officers arrived to find the woman deceased at the site. Investigators said the bus was traveling east on Van Buren Street and turning south onto the frontage road when it hit the pedestrian. It was not immediately clear whether the woman was in a marked crosswalk at the time.
Police said the bus driver was the only person aboard the vehicle. The woman’s identity had not been publicly released. Several roads, including southbound 59th Avenue, the nearby Loop 202 on-ramp, and eastbound Van Buren Street, remained closed for hours while crews worked in the area.
Investigators are reviewing video from the bus’s onboard cameras as they continue examining the circumstances surrounding the collision. Our deepest condolences go out to the woman’s family and loved ones.
Why Turning Vehicles and Pedestrians Can Create Dangerous Situations
Pedestrian crashes often occur at intersections and roadway access points where drivers are focused on traffic movements, signals, and turning maneuvers. During a turn, a driver’s attention may be divided between approaching vehicles and people crossing nearby roadways.
Early morning hours can present additional challenges because reduced light levels may affect visibility. Large vehicles such as buses also have wider turning paths and larger blind spots than passenger vehicles, which can make it harder to see pedestrians in certain positions. Investigators commonly review traffic signals, roadway design, visibility conditions, and video footage to better understand how pedestrian crashes occur and whether any contributing factors were present.
