By Michael Ferraresi | The Arizona Republic
Abel Abebe
PHOENIX — Dozens of friends gathered Monday at the Laveen home of an Arizona State University student killed in a traffic collision caused by a suspected red-light runner.
Abel Abebe, 27, an immigrant from Ethiopia, died from injuries he suffered when a 2008 Hyundai coupe broadsided his Honda Civic on Baseline Road as he drove to work in Chandler. Investigators said the Hyundai’s driver ran a red light on southbound 19th Avenue as a police helicopter followed overhead.
“He wasn’t sick or anything,” said Fitsum Sima, 25, a friend and fellow Ethiopian immigrant who attended St. Mary’s Orthodox Tewahedo Church in south Phoenix with Abebe.
“It just happened on his way to work,” Sima said. “It wasn’t his fault.”
Phoenix police patrol officers spotted the Hyundai about 12:30 a.m. Monday after watching a female driver switch seats with a male passenger at an intersection near a store where police said the man stole beer moments earlier. After taking the wheel, the man sped away from an attempted traffic stop near McDowell Road and 55th Avenue, police said.
Abebe, an ASU pharmacy student, worked a graveyard shift as caregiver with mentally-challenged adults before he would head to ASU’s main campus in Tempe for class. He tutored students in math and physics.
Dawit Tessema, 23, said he spent nearly every day of the past four years at Abebe’s side between work, church and pickup soccer games.
“One day he’s here talking to me, the next day he’s gone,” Tessema said. “He was a guy you could count on. The more I think about it, the more I wonder, ‘Why him?’ ”
Phoenix Officer James Holmes, a department spokesman, said the 47-year-old driver of the Hyundai could face charges of felony flight from police and possibly vehicular homicide or manslaughter. The female passenger, 30, is not considered a suspect at this time, he said.
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FORUM | 22 Comments
So sad R.I.P
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February 1st, 2010 at 9:36 PM
i still cant believe this
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February 1st, 2010 at 10:27 PM
r.i.p
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February 2nd, 2010 at 8:56 AM
May GOD rest his soul in peace and give strength to his family at this time of sorrow, i hope the driver who took this innocent person’s life too short will roast in jail for the rest of his natural life!! loser like the driver have no such value for human life what so ever, ABEL could have had bright future and better life, he came all the way form Ethiopia and paid the ultimate sacrifies, OHHH God my heart bleeds when i hear this kind of sad news WONDIMMEN WONDIMMEN WONDIMMEN.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 10:08 AM
R.I.P
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February 2nd, 2010 at 10:35 AM
So sad, what a gifted young person my heart goes to his family and friends. God bless.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 2:59 PM
Owww My God, I’m very sorry, rest his soul in peace and give strength to his family.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 3:36 PM
abelo, you’ll be missed
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February 2nd, 2010 at 5:59 PM
we are very sorry about the death our brother. he was a very kind guy from what we know about him. we wish for God to give his family strength.
FROM NORWAY
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February 2nd, 2010 at 6:53 PM
R.I.P. A very sad news.Whoever caused this trajedy should be punished to the full extent of the law.The 23 years old the son of the prominent Ethiopian neurosurgeon Beruch Yonas Zegeye served 13 months in county jail after being charged for DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, DUI causing serious bodily injury, and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury in Florida.Beruch Zegeye was partying on a boat for five hours with about 12 to 15 teenagers that Saturday night of September 13, 2008.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 10:40 PM
I’m very sad. I wish consolation for his family. He will get resurrection.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 10:41 PM
I am really sad. God rest his soul in peace. For the family members my condolences. RIP Abel
NORWAY
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February 3rd, 2010 at 9:12 AM
May God rest your soul in peace Abelye. I can`t believe that you are gone. My condolences goes to your family.
I will miss you
Fre Norway
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February 3rd, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Am just so sad Abelye. But i know that God will rest Your soul in peace. We miss you.
Norway
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February 3rd, 2010 at 11:26 AM
ABEL, it is hard to imagine you are gone. you had a bright future. I pray for your family and for you to rest in peace. You were loved so much.
Phoenix college student
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February 3rd, 2010 at 8:54 PM
Such a tragedy. I want to send my thoughts and prayers to the family. Abel rest in peace. You will never be forgotten.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 9:04 PM
I’m so sad Abelye it is hard to believe that you are gone. You were so lovable person yene konjo. May GOD rest your soul in peace and strength for your family. we miss you
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February 4th, 2010 at 2:50 AM
I’m so sad Abele it is hard to believe that you are gone. May God bless your soul. I can not even image that I wont see you at AT ASU FIELD TO PLAY SOCCER AGAIN. I hope the guy who caused death will be rotten in JAIL.
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February 4th, 2010 at 10:37 AM
My heart goes out to the family. They should sue the city. The cops should’nt have been chasing them for beer anyway.
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February 9th, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Abele, we miss you
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March 23rd, 2010 at 10:48 AM
I was a coworker of him. I lost contact with him and thought he just changed his cell phone number. He was a very nice guy. Can’t believe what happened to him. “Why him?Why?”
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December 23rd, 2010 at 3:49 PM
I had the honor to meet Abel 7 years ago. We took classes together back in Phoenix College. He was a guy with a positive soul. Nice guy. A person with strong values and morals. A person with a warm heart full of honesty and love to the world! Abel, thank you for been part of my life. We will always remember you ! RIP.
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December 23rd, 2010 at 9:51 PM