Bontas struck, killed by SUV in Fountain Hills, Ariz.

The following is an update to the death notice that ran earlier today on the Tuesday deaths of Robert and Karen Bonta of Wever.

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - Two local and prominent Wever residents were killed in a tragic auto/pedestrian accident in Fountain Hills, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, on Tuesday.

Robert, 72, and Karen Bonta, 71, were both struck and killed while waiting to cross an intersection by a motorist who allegedly lost control of his vehicle.

According to reports from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department, at approximately 9:30 am Tuesday morning, the sheriff's police received several 911 phone calls regarding a traffic accident at the corner of Saguaro and Palisades Boulevard in the Fountain Hills community.

The Bontas were walking northbound on the east sidewalk of Saguaro Blvd. at Palisades Blvd. where they stopped to cross Saguaro Blvd. Two other pedestrians Patti, 60, and Ronald, 60, Doornbos, husband and wife, were also walking northbound on the same sidewalk when they were all struck by a 1998 gold Ford Explorer SUV.

Deputies reported the SUV was being driven by 27-year-old Alex Bradshaw. Karen and Patti were pronounced dead at the scene. Robert and Ronald were transported to a local hospital via ground ambulance, where Robert was pronounced dead. Ronald sustained a traumatic head injury that required multiple emergency surgeries and is currently in ICU.

It appears the two couples did not know each other and were not together at the time of the collision. Patti and Ronald Doornbos were from Canada. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.

According to reports in local newspapers including The Arizona Republic, 10 pedestrians had been killed in the Phoenix metro area in the past week.

The Bontas were both retired educators and Robert was a board member of Fort Madison Community Hospital.

A statement was released Thursday afternoon from Fort Madison Community Hospital.

"Bob has been extremely instrumental in the success of FMCH serving as a member of our Board of Directors for the past eight years, holding the position of President from 2014-2017. He has also been a driving force as a SHIIP volunteer at FMCH, helping hundreds of community members navigate their Medicare benefits. Bob was always quick with a smile and a story to share of his grandchildren – he will be greatly missed."

Kink-Lynk Funeral home is in charge of the arrangements.