Mon, Jul 06, 2009

Tucson Region

Gilbert cop dies after collision with suspected drunken driver

The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.01.2006
PHOENIX — A Gilbert Police Department officer who was struck by a speeding vehicle on Saturday evening died early Sunday.
Officer Rob Targosz, who was assigned to his department's DUI unit, died at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Hospital at 1:30 a.m., about seven hours after his police motorcycle was hit by a suspected drunken driver at a Tempe intersection.
Targosz, 37, had been a Gilbert officer for 12 years and was on the way to work when a Ford Mustang ran a red light, officials said.
Tempe police Sgt. Dan Masters said the car's driver and passenger ran away, but police tracked them down.
The driver was identified as Tyler Fahlman, 20, of Tempe. He was booked on charges of manslaughter and hit and run causing death, Masters said.
Fahlman exhibited signs of alcohol intoxication during sobriety field tests, Masters said.