With heavy hearts and profound sadness, the University of Arizona community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Sophia Troetel and Josiah Santos, two bright and beloved students whose lives were tragically cut short in a hit-and-run crash near 2nd Street and Euclid Avenue late Thursday night.
Authorities say the collision occurred just before midnight, when a speeding vehicle struck the two students as they were walking near the intersection and fled the scene without stopping. Emergency responders arrived within minutes, but despite their best efforts, Sophia and Josiah could not be saved. The driver remains at large, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.
The devastating news has left the University of Arizona campus and the wider Tucson community in deep mourning. Sophia Troetel and Josiah Santos were both described as exceptional students — dedicated, compassionate, and full of life. Their loss is being felt across classrooms, dorms, and student organizations where they made an indelible mark.
Sophia Troetel, a third-year environmental science major, was passionate about protecting the planet and advocating for sustainable solutions. Known for her warmth and empathy, she spent much of her free time volunteering for local clean-up initiatives and mentoring younger students in her program. Friends say she had “a smile that could brighten any day” and a determination to make the world a better place through her work and kindness.
Josiah Santos, a sophomore in the Eller College of Management, was known for his leadership and generosity. A member of several student organizations, Josiah had a natural gift for bringing people together. His peers remember him as ambitious, funny, and endlessly supportive — someone who went out of his way to lift others up. Josiah had dreams of starting his own socially responsible business, one that would give back to the community he loved so dearly.
In a heartfelt statement, University of Arizona President Dr. Robert C. Robbins expressed the collective grief of the Wildcat community:
“We are devastated by the tragic loss of two outstanding members of our Wildcat family. Sophia and Josiah represented everything that makes this university special — compassion, curiosity, and a commitment to making a difference. We extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and all who were fortunate to know them.”
Counseling and mental health services have been made available through Campus Health and Counseling & Psych Services (CAPS) to support students, faculty, and staff during this difficult time.
A candlelight vigil is being organized by student leaders to honor Sophia and Josiah’s lives, giving classmates and friends a space to gather, reflect, and share memories. Plans are also underway for a memorial scholarship fund in their names to support future students who embody their same passion and spirit.
At the site of the crash, a growing memorial of flowers, candles, and handwritten notes has formed. Students and community members continue to visit the corner of 2nd Street and Euclid Avenue, leaving tributes and prayers as they struggle to come to terms with the loss of two lives filled with so much promise.
As the investigation continues, the community’s call for justice grows stronger. Yet amid the sorrow, the memory of Sophia Troetel and Josiah Santos continues to shine — a reminder of the beauty of their lives, the kindness they shared, and the profound impact they had on everyone around them.
Their loss has left an ache in the heart of the Wildcat family, but their legacy will endure through every life they touched and every act of kindness inspired by their memory.
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