Alcohol believed factor in
fatal hit, run
Senta Scarborough
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 15, 2005 12:00 AM
Police said they believe alcohol was a factor in a hit-and-run crash that killed a 35-year-old Mesa man riding a motorized skateboard early Wednesday.
Muneerah Ali Al-Tarrah, 22, was driving a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee that struck Todd L. De Gain, who was on Alma School Road about 500 feet south of Baseline Road at 2:30 a.m., Mesa police Sgt. Chuck Trapani said.
The driver of a red Mustang, Reem Ahmad Bishara, also struck the skateboard, damaging her car, police said. advertisement
Police said they aren't clear whether De Gain was crossing the road or riding down the street.
A witness called police after hearing the crash, seeing De Gain in the roadway and watching the Jeep Grand Cherokee leave the scene and strike a light pole, police said. The witness also reported seeing the Mustang closely following the Cherokee. Both cars initially stopped at the crash and then fled, court records show.
Despite a large hole in her windshield and the victim's blood on the car, Al-Tarrah denied hitting De Gain but admitted striking the light pole, court records show.
Police said Al-Tarrah and Bishara, an Arizona State University student, were traveling together at the time of the fatal crash. Both are Kuwaiti citizens. Al-Tarrah attended ASU last semester.
Officers arrested Al-Tarrah on suspicion of felony leaving the scene of a fatal accident, failing to stay at fatal injury accident and extreme DUI. An initial alcohol breath test showed she registered higher than the extreme DUI legal limit of 0.15 blood alcohol content, police said.
Police booked Bishara, 19, of Phoenix, on suspicion of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and failing to stay at a fatal injury scene, underage consumption and DUI. Both leaving the scene of a fatal accident and failing to