Retired Police Chief and Amazon Executive Die After Being Hit by Car While Helping Injured Dog
Nooraly Lalji, 47, and John Wintersteen, 78, were tending to the injured animal by 46th Street and Lincoln Drive when they were hit, authorities said
Former Paradise Valley Police Department Chief John Wintersteen
A retired police chief and an Amazon executive have died in Arizona after they were hit by a car while attempting to help an injured dog. Nooraly Lalji, 47, and John Wintersteen, 78, were tending to the injured animal by 46th Street and Lincoln Drive when they were both hit by a Lexus RX, according to a news release from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, obtained by PEOPLE.
Authorities said Lalji stopped and got out of his car after hitting the dog with his Mercedes-Benz on Lincoln Drive around 6:30 p.m. local time. Wintersteen left his nearby home to help. At least one of the men was also run over by a Nissan Sentra, DPS said.
The two men were transported to a Scottsdale hospital, where they later died. The dog involved in the incident also died. Related: Veteran Police Officer Dies After Being Found Outside Mass. Home During Winter Storm[1] Town records show that Lalji was the Head of Business Development for Amazon in 2018, according to NBC affiliate KPNX[2].
A family member told the station that Lalji still worked there when he died. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter[3] to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Wintersteen spent 30 years in the U.S.
Marine Corps, and became a commanding officer by age 22, according to a statement from the Town of Paradise Valley[4]. He later spent 20 years in the USMC Military Police before retiring in 1995 as a lieutenant colonel. Related: Police Officer and Dad Dies at 35 After Bee Sting Leads to Brain Injury: ‘Please Watch Over Us,’ Says Wife[5]
That same year, Wintersteen joined the Paradise Valley Police Department. He spent 14 years in various roles, including, Chief of Police, Director of Public Safety, Town Marshal and Director of Emergency Management. Story continues
Wintersteen also served as interim chief for Clarksdale’s police department from 2011 to 2012, per KPNX. “He was a tough act to follow,” said Clarkdale Police Chief Randy Taylor. “Every staff member absolutely loved him.” Related: Mass.
Police Officer Dies After Trying to Save Drowning 14-Year-Old Boy: ‘Our Hearts Are Broken’[6] Wintersteen’s granddaughter Hana said the dog involved in the crash belonged to her grandfather. “He was the dog’s person,” she told KPNX. “They really cared for each other.” Both drivers involved in Saturday’s deadly crash remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, according to the DPS news release.
Investigators do not believe impairment was a factor in the collision. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter![7] Read the original article on People[8].
References
- ^ Veteran Police Officer Dies After Being Found Outside Mass. Home During Winter Storm (people.com)
- ^ NBC affiliate KPNX (www.12news.com)
- ^ PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter (forms.dotdashmeredith.com)
- ^ Town of Paradise Valley (www.paradisevalleyaz.gov)
- ^ Police Officer and Dad Dies at 35 After Bee Sting Leads to Brain Injury: ‘Please Watch Over Us,’ Says Wife (people.com)
- ^ Mass.
Police Officer Dies After Trying to Save Drowning 14-Year-Old Boy: ‘Our Hearts Are Broken’
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- ^ People (people.com)