Phoenix police arrest suspect after cyclist and triathlete Hannah Rose Henry dies in alleged hit-and-run
Fatal crash during training ride
Phoenix police have arrested a 46-year-old man in connection with the death of Hannah Rose Henry, a 26-year-old Canadian triathlete and Arizona State University alumna, after what investigators describe as a hit-and-run collision on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
Officers were called around 11:18 a.m. to the area of Central Avenue and Elwood Street, where they found Henry critically injured in or near a designated bike lane. Firefighters pronounced her dead at the scene.
What investigators allege happened
Investigators allege the driver, identified as Eric Dustin Hodge, was operating a van that veered into the bike lane and struck Henry from behind. Court documents referenced in local reporting describe the vehicle continuing forward after impact, with the driver leaving the scene.
Police said detectives used video from the area to identify the make and model of the vehicle and locate it at a nearby residence. Investigators also cited physical evidence on or under the van as part of their case, and reported that the suspect attempted to evade officers before being taken into custody.
Charges and court process
Prosecutors have filed felony charges that include reckless manslaughter, leaving the scene of a deadly crash, and drug-related counts tied to narcotics and paraphernalia. In court proceedings described in reports, the suspect told investigators he had used fentanyl and said he fell asleep at the wheel, later claiming he believed he had struck an object rather than a person.
In statements attributed to the suspect in court coverage, he said he did not realize he had hit anyone and described falling asleep while driving.
Who Hannah Henry was
Henry was from Victoria, British Columbia, and competed in triathlon at Arizona State, where she became a prominent athlete in the program’s early NCAA-era growth. She won individual collegiate national titles in 2017 and 2018 and was part of multiple team championship seasons during her tenure with the Sun Devils.
Arizona State said Henry graduated summa cum laude in 2021 and later completed a master’s degree in 2023.
Case status
Date of crash: February 8, 2026
Arrest announced: February 9, 2026
First court appearance reported: February 10, 2026
The criminal case remains in the early stages, with future hearings expected to address detention, release conditions, and the progression of charges through the court system.