http://www.svherald.com/articles/2006/06/25/local_news/news5.txt

Man awaits possible extradition for hit-and-run

BY GENTRY BRASWELL

HERALD/REVIEW

SIERRA VISTA — A man is being held at the Pima County Jail, awaiting possible extradition to Cochise County, in connection with an Interstate 10 hit-and-run incident Friday night near the Benson exit, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

U.S. Border Patrol was attempting to stop a white Chevrolet pickup westbound on the interstate, and at 8:57 p.m. the pickup pulled onto the median at mile post 303. One subject jumped out of the vehicle and ran into traffic, then was struck and killed by a passing vehicle, according to the DPS press release. The westbound vehicle which hit the man didn’t stop, the press release said.

The Chevy pickup originally stopped by Border Patrol contained about 15 or 20 passengers.

At 1:46 a.m. Saturday, 21-year-old Bradley J. Knippa of Tucson was seen by a highway patrol officer in a vehicle matching that of the suspect vehicle description — a 2006 Hyundai — at the TTT Truck Stop parking lot.

Knippa was arrested and booked initially under suspicion of DUI, and additional charges are being considered by the Cochise and Pima County Attorneys’ Offices, authorities said.

Monday is the earliest that the Cochise County Jail transport will be able to coordinate with Pima County Jail the possible extradition of Knippa, Cochise County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Carol Capas said Saturday.

herald/review reporter Gentry Braswell can be reached at 515-4680 or by e-mail at gentry.braswell@svherald.com.