PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz — 12News is learning more about a pedestrian crash in east Phoenix Sunday evening that killed a retired police chief and an executive at Amazon. The men were tending to the retired chief’s injured dog at 46th Street and Lincoln Drive when they were killed.
The men were in a precarious position - attempting to help the animal in the dark on a busy road that runs east and west through the Paradise Valley community – when a car struck them.
'Greatest person I’ve ever known'
“He’s like the greatest person I’ve ever known, and will ever know,” said Hana Wintersteen, granddaughter of one of the victims, 78-year-old John Wintersteen.
A lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Marine Corps, Wintersteen served in the military nearly three decades and led the Paradise Valley Police Department from 1995-2009. He volunteered for the Sierra Club, the Boy Scouts of America, the Rotary Club and organized the town’s annual MLK celebrations.
“He often joked he was still full-time, even though he was retired,” said Commander Patrick Beumler of Paradise Valley police.
Wintersteen was also interim chief in Clarkdale, Arizona, from 2011-2012.
"He was a tough act to follow. Every staff member absolutely loved him," said Clarkdale Police Chief Randy Taylor.
Wintersteen leaves behind a wife, three children, and four grandchildren.
Executive at Amazon tried to help injured dog
The other victim was 47-year-old Nuralee Lalji, an east Phoenix resident who was an executive for Amazon.
According to city records, Lalji was Head of Business Development for Amazon in 2018.
He was still working for Amazon at the time of his death, a family member of Lalji told 12News. Lalji was the father of three girls under 12 years old.
According to DPS, Lalji was driving westbound on Lincoln Drive shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday when his car struck a dog.
Lalji got out of his car to help the dog.
Dog belonged to Wintersteen
The dog belonged to Wintersteen, whose house is adjacent to Lincoln Drive. It is located less than a block from the accident site.
Wintersteen joined Lalji in the road to tend to the dog when a car struck the two men at some point. A second car then hit one of the men again, according to DPS. The dog was also killed.
As a retired law enforcement official familiar with road safety issues, Wintersteen would have known the hazards of walking on Lincoln Drive at night. There were no crosswalks or stoplights near the accident site.
“Any time you are in the street and not in a public crosswalk or a really lighted area, those are the dangers that come with getting in the roadway, and those are things that he (Wintersteen) knew,” Beumler said. “He did his best to try and do the right thing and it was just a very unfortunate accident.”
DPS is investigating the case and said Monday afternoon no one was cited for the crash. The drivers of both cars that hit the men stayed on the scene and there were no signs of impairment, according to DPS.
'A good person... to people and animals'
Wintersteen’s granddaughter said he owned the dog for about a year.
“He was the dog’s person. They really cared for each other,” Hana Wintersteen said.
After retirement, Wintersteen assisted the Sierra Club with proposed legislation and could be seen attending organization events with his wife.
“He was a good person and very kind to people and animals alike,” said Sandy Bahr, executive director of the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter.
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