Family of 347 Victim Valerie Lewis Pleads for Return of Personal Items Found by the Roadside

A tragic accident occurred early Thursday morning, leading to the death of 39-year-old Valerie Ann Lewis near mile marker 177 on State Route 347. Family members reported that Lewis had been stopped to change a tire while awaiting assistance from her boyfriend when she was struck by a passing vehicle.

An investigation is currently ongoing, led by the Gila River Police Department, which has not made any public statements regarding the incident. A woman identifying herself as the wife of the driver involved reached out to InMaricopa, suggesting that the collision was accidental. “My husband had accidentally hit the car due to it being stopped on the 347 and they had no car lights on,” she noted.

The circumstances surrounding the accident have raised questions within the community. In her email, the woman expressed confusion over the lack of acknowledgment from authorities, stating, “I don’t know why they are not saying anything.” She characterized the event as a “tragedy for sure.”

Later that afternoon, family members gathered at the crash site to create a roadside memorial and search for Lewis’s personal belongings lost in the aftermath. They expressed difficulty in locating the exact spot due to debris from the accident scattered along the highway.

This area has a history of pedestrian accidents, as another fatal incident occurred at the same location earlier this year. Lewis was a resident of Sacaton, leaving behind a family now grappling with the loss.