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Ruben Almanza

Age : 40

Gender : Unknown

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 02/01/2026

Location : Near 75th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road

City : Phoenix

County : Maricopa

State : Arizona

Agency : Phoenix Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On the night of 01/29/2026, Phoenix Police Department officers stopped a 40-year-old man, Ruben Almanza, for suspected impaired driving near 59th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road, and officers spoke with him for several minutes before he drove off from the traffic stop at a high rate of speed. Police provided his vehicle description and direction of travel to other units but did not pursue. Minutes later, Almanza’s vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with another car near 75th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road. The driver of the other vehicle, 35-year-old Melvina Jones, died at the scene from her injuries. Almanza was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died. Phoenix police said impairment was suspected in Almanza’s driving at the time of the crash. The collision investigation remained ongoing with the department’s traffic units.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/man-fled-from-phoenix-traffic-stop-and-crashed-into-car-killing-woman
https://www.azfamily.com/2026/02/01/phoenix-police-chase-crash-kills-woman/
https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/police-chase-crash-phoenix-woman-killed/