Glendale woman wants justice after husband killed in hit-and-run crash
No charges filed yet, but prosecutors say they are waiting on court to determine probable cause
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The pain and sadness don’t go away for Caserina Hawkins, whose beloved husband, Martin Hawkins, died six months ago after he was killed by a hit-and-run driver while heading home on his motorcycle.
“I tell people I’m not afraid of heaven or hell, because hell is picking up the pieces and trying to go on trying to keep my family together, trying to pay the bills,” said Hawkins.
The grieving Glendale woman says what’s made the tragedy even worse is the fact that no arrests have been and no criminal charges filed, even though investigators say they know who the hit-and-run driver was.
According to police reports, 79-year-old Katherine Evans was driving the SUV that hit Hawkins at the intersection of 67th Avenue and Mountain View Drive in Glendale around 6:20 p.m. on March 21.
Evans had alcohol and prescription drugs in her system at the time of the crash, according to toxicology reports.
Witnesses reported that the driver waited in her car for a few minutes after the crash and then drove off.
Evans was later found at her home a few blocks away.
“You killed somebody,” said Hawkins. “Whether it was an accident or not there still needs to be accountability.”
Arizona’s Family contacted the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to ask about the case.
A short time later, a staff member contacted Hawkins and told her they were in the process of charging the hit-and-run driver. However, she could get probation if Evans has no prior criminal history.
“Our office has made a charging decision, and we are currently waiting for a probable cause determination from the court,” the county attorney’s office told Arizona’s Family about the case.
Valley attorney Anthony Knowles says hit-and-run cases often present challenges for prosecutors because of what they can and cannot prove.
“A hit-and-run case they may have the vehicle, may have description, may have video or something, but that’s only half of process,” said Knowles. “The other half is proving who was driving and who left the scene.”
In December 2023, David Hadrich, 27, was riding his motorcycle in Carefree when a hit-and-run driver killed him.
His father, Tim Hadrich, has made it his mission to get state lawmakers to pass a new law requiring automatic prison time for any driver who kills someone behind the wheel.
“They need to make mandatory sentencing for anybody who kills somebody,” said Hadrich. “If you accidentally kill somebody with a gun you get jail time. The lawmakers need to change this law and we will not stop until it gets changed.”
Prosecutors say it’s not uncommon for hit-and-run cases to take six months or longer before a decision is made on whether criminal charges are filed.
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