Susan Hawkins, a 60-year-old Phoenix Municipal Court Hearing Officer, died Wednesday, February 11, after being struck by a truck near 3rd Avenue and Adams Street in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Hawkins sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased, according to a statement from the Phoenix Police Department.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:20 p.m. As Hawkins was walking north from the elevators of a parking structure, police said. Investigators believe the truck driver was in the process of turning when the collision occurred. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities.
Hawkins had been a dedicated public servant with the City of Phoenix since 1993. In her role as a Hearing Officer, she presided over arraignments and hearings for civil traffic and non-traffic cases, and was particularly known for her work resolving neighborhood code violations, according to city leaders.
Phoenix officials expressed deep sorrow over Hawkins’s death. Councilmember Ann O’Brien released a statement calling her death “a tragic accident and heartbreaking for our City.” Councilmember Laura Pastor also offered condolences to the Hawkins family.
The Phoenix Police Department’s Vehicular Crimes Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Preliminary findings indicate impairment was not a factor in the incident, but no further information has been released at this time.
Hawkins’s passing has prompted an outpouring of grief from those who knew her and worked alongside her. She is remembered as a dedicated professional who approached her work with “care, fairness, and quiet strength,” according to a statement released by city officials.
