The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information related to the fatal accident Tuesday morning in Fountain Hills:

Karen (71) and Robert (72) Bonta, (husband/wife) and Patti (60) and Ronald (60) Doornbos (husband/wife) were all walking northbound on the sidewalk on the Fountain Park side of Saguaro Boulevard approaching Palisades Boulevard when they were struck by a 1998 gold Ford Explorer SUV. The SUV was being driven by 27-year-old Alex Bashaw.

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. Karen and Robert Bonta are from Iowa and Patti and Ronald Doornbos are from Canada.

The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending the outcome of the investigation.

Residents are invited to a vigil in memory of the victims this evening, March 15, at 6:30 to 7 p.m. at the intersection of Saguaro and Palisades boulevards.