Yuma police renew appeal in five-year-old hit-and-run death case

Yuma police are again asking for help in the unsolved hit-and-run that killed Alan Cunningham, pointing to a silver Chrysler 200 with heavy driver-side damage and a broken headlight as the detail that could still break the case.

Cunningham, 18, was riding with two friends in the early morning hours of May 5, 2021, when a vehicle struck him in the 1900 block of West 32nd Street in Yuma, near the East Main Canal. Police later said another 16-year-old was also hit and seriously injured, while a third teenager at the scene was not injured. Cunningham was taken to the hospital and later died.

The suspect vehicle was described as a silver Chrysler 200 from the 2011 to 2013 model years. Investigators have said the car had heavy damage on the driver’s side and a broken headlight, a description they continue to push because it may connect to a repair, a sighting or a person who owned or drove the car at the time. The crash location has also been described by police as West 32nd Street between 15th Avenue and 21st Avenue, an area where bicyclists and cars share a busy stretch of roadway.

Five years later, the case remains open and unresolved. Sgt. Lori Franklin said the investigation is still dependent on someone stepping forward with information, and officers are urging anyone with even a small detail to call Yuma police or leave an anonymous tip through 78-CRIME at 928-782-7463. The City of Yuma says the tip line is designed to connect residents, law enforcement and the news media in the fight against crime.

The loss has never fully faded from public view. The Yuma Bicycle Coalition dedicated a memorial bike for Cunningham on 32nd Street, keeping his name visible along the same corridor where the crash happened. His father, Brent Perez, made a public plea for justice in 2022, reflecting the family’s continuing search for answers. Memorial listings describe Cunningham, who was born Jan. 20, 2003, as a student and a cook at a local food service establishment, details that help explain why the case still resonates across Yuma County.