By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD — A three-day search for the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run on State Route 266 ended Monday night after the suspect called authorities to turn himself in.
According to logs from the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, Ricky Sean Finch, 57, contacted law enforcement around 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, reporting that he was the individual wanted in connection with the fatal collision that occurred Friday evening southwest of Safford. Finch advised dispatchers he was waiting in the backyard of a residence on West Chastain Lane in Graham County, near his vehicle. According to witness reports, the vehicle showed impact damage to its hood and a broken windshield from the impact with the victim’s body.
Graham County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene, secured the suspect’s vehicle, and coordinated with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). Finch was taken into custody, and his vehicle was impounded as evidence. He has since been booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious injury.
The arrest stems from a fatal crash that occurred at approximately 7:32 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, near milepost 118 on SR 266. Dispatch reports indicated an eastbound vehicle—initially described by callers as possibly a white sedan—struck a pedestrian identified as Ed Cassano and fled the scene toward Safford.
First responders and deputies arrived on scene around 7:52 p.m., but determined Cassano had succumbed to his injuries. Lifeline medical personnel were turned away upon arrival. Deputies temporarily held several stopped motorists at the scene for interviews and rerouted westbound traffic on SR 266 until DPS troopers reopened the highway early Saturday morning.
One witness present shortly after the incident, a Department of Corrections employee traveling to work at Fort Grant Prison, reported driving approximately 25 mph due to heavy lightning in the area. He noted he did not see the collision occur or observe a fleeing vehicle along his route.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety is continuing its investigation into the collision.
