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This Week
Arrest made in fatal hit-and-run BY JOE MCHUGH
Peoria Times Staff Writer
A BUSINESS .......9 Super Star Car Wash sells for $6.2 million
JANUARY 5, 2023
Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper
n arrest has been made in connection with a hit-and-run that left a woman dead near the Loop 101 in Peoria on Dec. 19. Johnathan Baldizon, 30, was apprehended by the Peoria Police Department on Dec. 26 — roughly one week after the incident. The victim was identified as Nichole Cortez, 33, of Peoria. “I can say thanks to the high-pro-
file attention the media gave this case, which is very tragic,” said Bart Graves, Arizona Department of Public Safety media relations specialist. “While they’re all tragic, this is especially tragic coming so close to the holidays. The intense media coverage of this generated a lot of tips to our detectives, and leads that they followed up and eventually culminated in the arrest of Mr. Baldizon.” Shortly after the crash, Peoria police and the Arizona Department of Public Safety announced they were looking for
a 2010 to 2014 Dodge Challenger with a red stripe, and damage on the passenger side. The information was picked up and shared with the community via social media and police agencies. Starting with the traffic cameras, detectives saw Baldizon’s car was “driving at a higher rate of speed than others,” according to the probable cause document released by the Maricopa County Superior Court. SEE ARREST PAGE 5
Loop 303 closures upcoming for construction BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
CHAMBER .....15 Annual golf tournament honors first responders
OPINION.........................7 BUSINESS .......................9 SPORTS .........................11 CHAMBER .....................15 FEATURES .....................18 CALENDAR ...................18 RELIGION......................20 YOUTH ..........................23 CLASSIFIEDS .................25
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he Arizona Department of Transportation will close westbound Loop 303, between I-17 and Lake Pleasant Parkway, from 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, to 11 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, for freeway construction. As a detour, drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes including westbound State Route 74 to southbound Lake Pleasant Parkway to connect to Loop 303 beyond the closure. In addition, westbound Loop 303 will again be closed between I-17 and Lake SEE LOOP PAGE 5
Crews work on building the Loop 303 interchange at 43rd Avenue. (ADOT/Submitted)
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