Claire C. Laurence/Arizona Daily Wildcat A crime scene unit officer from the Tucson Police Department collects evidence from a vehicle that was involved in a hit-and-run accident late yesterday morning. The incident occurred on North Campbell Avenue just north of East Grant Road, and the suspect and a passenger were seen fleeing the scene on foot.

Man, 72, suffers serious injury

Police diverted traffic away from an accident on North Campbell Avenue yesterday, causing a three-hour delay in traffic leading to campus.

The hit-and-run on North Campbell Avenue left an elderly man in the hospital in serious condition.

Charles Christopher Hodges, 19, was arrested around 3:30 p.m. for leaving the scene of an accident and booked into Pima County Jail, said Tucson Police Department spokesman Sgt. Mark Robinson.

The victim, John W. Hemphill, 72, was crossing the street with another man just before 11 a.m. when a late 1990s black Dodge Neon, believed to be driven by Hodges, struck him near East Water Street and North Campbell Avenue, said Robinson.

Hemphill suffered life-threatening injuries and underwent surgery at University Medical Center early Wednesday afternoon.

Police blocked off part of North Campbell Avenue and East Spring Street while investigating the accident, causing detours and traffic delays by the UA campus. The streets were both open by 2 p.m.

Robinson said northbound and southbound traffic had stopped to let Hemphill cross the street, but the Neon rapidly changed lanes, hitting the man.

Police examined skid marks left at the scene and believe the Neon was traveling at 44 mph; the speed limit on North Campbell Avenue is 35 mph.

Hodges was traveling with his girlfriend, a minor, at the time of the incident, Robinson said.

Witnesses said Hodges' girlfriend originally got out of the car. She then got back into the Neon, and Hodges continued driving south on Campbell Avenue and turned onto East Spring Street, said Robinson.

A witness of the accident, who had also turned onto Spring Street in an attempt to turn around and help the victim, saw the Neon.

The witnesses thought Hodges was attempting to flee the scene and confronted him, Robinson said.

Another witness saw what was happening and stopped his car behind the Neon, trapping the car in on East Spring Street, Robinson said.

Witnesses told police Hodges and his girlfriend then returned to the scene of the accident. They soon left on foot, heading south on Campbell Avenue, and did not return.

A search warrant was used on the Neon, and police were able to determine whom the car was registered to, Robinson said.

Evidence led police to a house on the 1200 block of East Halcyon Road and after an hour of surveillance, police knocked on the door.

The door was not latched and after calling out, police realized Hodges and his girlfriend were inside, Robinson said.

Hodges' girlfriend's name was not released because she is a minor and had not been charged by last night, Robinson said.

Hemphill, who is from New Mexico, is here for the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, Robinson said.

Robinson said Hemphill's family was en route to Tucson last night and said Hemphill remained in "extreme critical condition."