Authorities have charged a man in connection with a car crash that resulted in the death of an on-duty Tucson police officer two months ago. Tucson police revealed that 20-year-old Nicholas William Skitzki faces a misdemeanor charge of death by a moving violation, along with two civil traffic infractions related to failing to yield at an intersection.

Skitzki, who was cited and released on April 24, is due for arraignment on May 7 in Tucson City Court. Attempts to reach Skitzki for comment were unsuccessful, and it remains unclear if he has secured legal representation.

The incident, which occurred on March 31 near the University of Arizona campus, involved Officer Adam Buckner, 31, who was responding to an emergency call. According to the police, Buckner, with his siren and lights active, had the right of way when his patrol car was struck by Skitzki's sedan as it made a turn. The impact forced Buckner's vehicle into a traffic signal pole, leading to fatal injuries that later claimed his life at a hospital.

Officer Buckner, who joined the Tucson Police Department in 2021 and served as the lead officer for the city’s midtown district, had begun his law enforcement career with the New Orleans Police Department in 2017 before becoming a detective. His death marks him as the ninth officer from the Tucson Police Department to die in the line of duty.