To his children
He was Dad. His eight children belong at the heart of every remembrance of his life.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Jake Angel
Zabaleta
Remembering his life · October 5, 2026
A father of eight. Danny’s son. Will and Blake’s big brother. A cherished uncle and friend. Loved more than these words can hold.
A life is more than its hardest chapters.
Jake was loved, and Jake will be remembered.
Jake was here.Jake mattered.Jake was loved.
REMEMBERING OUR JAKE
There is so much
more to remember.
Jake was a father who loved his eight children, a son, and our brother. We want his children to have a place to remember him, and to know how much he meant to this family.
His dad, Daniel “Danny” Zabaleta, his brothers Blake and Will Zabaleta, his children, and the rest of his family are mourning him together. There is no easy way to say goodbye to someone who has been part of your life for so long.
For Will, Jake was the big brother who protected him when they were little. Through an unsettled childhood, that bond gave him something to hold on to. Losing Jake reaches all the way back to those memories.
Jake lived through difficult years and personal struggles. We cannot tell his story honestly without acknowledging them. We also cannot tell it honestly without the family who loved him, the children he loved, and the memories we still carry.
FROM ONE BROTHER TO ANOTHER
A Message From
His Brother, Will
Jake was my oldest brother. When I was little, he protected me. He looked after me and made me feel safe during a time when I didn’t have many people or places where I felt safe. That stayed with me my entire life.
“Losing him was like losing a part of myself.”— Will Zabaleta
Some bonds survive every distance, every struggle, and even death. I’ll always remember the years we had, the protection you gave me, and the fact that no matter where life took us, you were always my big brother. Rest easy, Jake. I love you. — Will
HIS GREATEST LEGACY
Eight children.
A love that stays.
Jake loved his eight children. As they grieve their dad, our hearts are with every one of them.
We hope this page gives them something to return to: his face in a family photograph, the words of people who loved him, and a reminder that their dad mattered.
LOVED BY HIS FAMILY
Forever one of us.
To Danny
He was his son. Daniel “Danny” Zabaleta’s words below hold the love of a father mourning his child.
To Will and Blake
He was their big brother. Through the difficult roads life took, that bond was still theirs.
There is room here for more memories and words from the people who loved Jake.
A FATHER REMEMBERS HIS SON
“He brought so much
light into our lives.”
FROM DANNY’S POST · SHARED BY THE FAMILY
It is with broken hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Jake Angel Zabaleta, who left us on October 5, 2026.
Jake was a truly beautiful soul—a devoted son, a loving father, a wonderful brother, and a cherished uncle. He brought so much light into our lives, and the world feels a lot emptier without him.
We are endlessly grateful for the time, laughter, and love we got to share with him.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love, prayers, and support during this incredibly difficult time. Your kindness means the world to our family.
Rest in peace, Jake. You will be deeply missed and never forgotten. 🤍🕊️
— Daniel Zabaleta, Jake’s father
A STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY
We love you,
Jake.
We are heartbroken. Jake was a father, a son, our brother, and part of our family. He loved his eight children, and our hearts are with them as they face losing their dad.
His dad, Danny, his brothers Blake and Will, and all of us who loved him are trying to take this one day at a time. We are holding on to the photographs, the memories, and the moments we wish we could have again.
Jake had struggles in his life. We knew those struggles, and we loved him through them. His life deserves to be remembered with care and dignity.
We still want answers about what happened. We are working to understand the facts and pursue accountability through the appropriate legal process. As that work continues, this page is a place to remember Jake and the love our family has for him.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out, shared a memory, or kept his children and our family in your thoughts. It means more than we can say.
Rest in peace, Jake. We love you.— The Zabaleta family
PHOTOGRAPHS HELD CLOSE
The Jake
We Remember
The faces, the years, the moments together. Tap a photograph to spend a little more time with it.
LOVE FROM FAMILY & FRIENDS
So many hearts
are with you.
Danny’s post brought messages of love, prayers, and support from relatives and friends. These are a few of the words shared with the family.
“I’m so sorry to you all, Jake was incredibly loved and will be severely missed…”
“Hugs brother. Love you.”
“Sorry for your loss uncle Danny, we are here for you . Rest in peace Jake”
“May peace be with you and may the Lord help you through this time. Love you Cousin”
“Prayers from my family to yours.”
“Mi mas sentido pesame primo”
“Thank you all. God bless!”
— Daniel Zabaleta, replying to those who reached outSelected excerpts from the screenshots shared by Jake’s family. Overlapping comments appear once.
MORE THAN ANY HEADLINE
We cannot reduce a human life to its hardest years or its final moments. Jake was a father, a son, a brother, and a person who was loved. Those who knew him carry memories that no report or headline can ever fully capture.
SEEKING ANSWERS
Information, records, and the questions we still haveOur family is seeking answers and preserving information while the circumstances surrounding Jake’s death continue to be reviewed.
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SEEKING ANSWERS
Information, records, and the questions we still haveOur family is seeking answers and preserving information while the circumstances surrounding Jake’s death continue to be reviewed.
FAMILY UPDATE · OCTOBER 7, 2026
Taking the next steps,
together.
Jake has been released
The family has learned that the medical examiner has released Jake’s body. We are taking the next steps toward laying him to rest.
Support for his children
The family reports that Zane’s Law will be representing Jake’s children. We are pursuing legal review of his death and possible civil claims.
Remembering him
Our focus is on Jake’s children, supporting one another, and honoring his memory. Memorial arrangements will be shared here when the family has details to announce.
Updates shared by the family. No lawsuit filing, finding of fault, or criminal charge is announced here.
WHAT WE KNOW · WHAT WE ARE STILL ASKING
Seeking answers,
with care.
Each entry explains its source, what it supports, and what remains unanswered. Updated October 7, 2026.
01PUBLIC REPORTINGThe collision+
KOLD reports that Jake, 40, died after being struck by a Buick SUV near Miracle Mile and Fairview on October 5. The vehicle was reportedly westbound; Jake was reportedly crossing north to south. KOLD says the driver stayed at the scene, was assessed as not impaired by alcohol or drugs, and that the investigation remained ongoing with no arrests or citations reported at that update.
The Arizona Daily Star places the crash in the 700 block at about 6:45 p.m. and reports police said Jake was not in or near a crosswalk. Its story also contains a conflicting weekday reference. The exact time and collision location need confirmation from original police records.
News summaries of police statements; the full authenticated crash report is not yet available here.
02PRELIMINARY RESEARCHStreetlights & visibility+
The family’s October 7 research review identifies six distinct mapped streetlight locations in the reported block using Tucson’s public inventory, at asset addresses 701, 715, 725, 735, 745 and 755 W. Miracle Mile. Approximate gaps are 105–119 feet.
Paired records at each location may reflect duplicates, replacement history, or co-located fixtures. They do not establish twelve physical lights. Inventory labels do not prove that the lights were operating that evening.
What this supports: documented roadway-lighting infrastructure in the block. What it does not establish: actual brightness, visibility of Jake, avoidability, speed, or fault. Historical operating logs, precise impact location, and calibrated light measurements are still needed.
03FAMILY OBSERVATIONS · UNVERIFIEDThe cart & final resting position+
Will reports that Jake’s cart had no apparent damage and describes an approximately 20-foot distance concerning where Jake’s body came to rest. Those observations have not been independently verified here; the reference points for the distance remain unclear.
The family wants scene photographs, the cart inspection, measured impact and resting positions, and reconstruction records to explain the sequence. These observations alone cannot establish vehicle speed or how the collision occurred.
04PRESERVATION SOUGHT · DATA UNAVAILABLEThe Buick’s vehicle data+
The family’s preservation notice includes any event data recorder (EDR), airbag-module, telematics, and other electronic vehicle records, together with vehicle inspection and relevant speed, braking, steering, and evasive-action evidence.
No EDR download is available on this page. Whether relevant data exists, was recorded, or has been preserved remains unconfirmed. The family wants that question answered before evidence is lost.
05DOCUMENT AVAILABLEPolice records acknowledgment+
A family-provided screenshot shows an automatic reply from the Tucson Police Department Records Section acknowledging receipt of an email requesting records concerning Jake’s fatal collision.
This confirms acknowledgment of the email. It does not confirm that the requested evidence has been released or that every preservation request has been implemented.
View acknowledgment screenshot ↗06RECORDS SOUGHTWhat is still missing+
- Full crash report, supplements, scene photographs, diagrams, and measurements.
- 911 and dispatch records establishing the collision time.
- Body-camera, dash-camera, business-camera, and witness footage.
- Vehicle examination, any recorded data, and speed/braking analysis.
- Streetlight operation, dimming, outage, and maintenance records for that evening.
- Verified cart condition, impact location, and final-rest measurements.
The family reports emailing a preservation notice. The notice seeks original records and metadata; confirmation of preservation is still needed.
Download public preservation summary ↓03 / WHERE THINGS STAND
Following the
next steps.
Jake dies on Miracle Mile
A fatal pedestrian collision is reported near Fairview. The precise collision time awaits original records.
Jake is identified in local reporting
Coverage identifies Jake Angel Zabaleta. Police statements describe an ongoing investigation.
The family seeks the underlying evidence
The family reports emailing a preservation notice. A records-request acknowledgment and preliminary lighting research are available.
Release and legal representation
The family reports that the medical examiner has released Jake’s body and that Zane’s Law will represent his children. The family is pursuing legal review and possible civil claims.
Obtain records. Review evidence. Update this page.
The family is seeking original materials and clear answers to the unresolved questions.
04 / FOR JOURNALISTS & WITNESSES
Help us understand
what happened.
We want Jake’s life remembered and his death fully examined. Reporters: please look beyond the initial summary, review the sources, and ask what the underlying evidence shows.
If you witnessed the collision or have footage from Miracle Mile on October 5, preserve the original file and its timestamp. Contact Tucson Police through its official channels and reference case P2610050150, supplied by the family.
Official Tucson Police website ↗Please respect Jake’s family and everyone involved. Share evidence and questions responsibly. This page will need updates as original records become available.
MEMORIAL ARRANGEMENTS & FAMILY SUPPORT
One step at a time.
When our family has memorial arrangements or a verified way to help, we will share them here. No contributions are being collected through this page at this time.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Jake was here.
Jake mattered.
Jake was loved.
He will not be forgotten.