TUCSON, Ariz. — A Democratic candidate for the Arizona state Senate tragically lost his life on Friday morning after being involved in a collision with a suspected drunk driver. This incident occurred just one day after John McLean conceded defeat to his GOP competitor in the recent election.

McLean, aged 68, was driving his Toyota RAV4 in Tucson around 6 a.m. when a Ford Explorer reportedly ran a stop sign and collided with his vehicle at a high speed while passing through an intersection, as stated by the Tucson Police Department.

The 27-year-old driver of the Explorer, identified as Michael Martin Creel, sustained minor injuries and has since been taken into custody. He is facing charges of manslaughter and aggravated driving under the influence and has been booked into Pima County Jail.

No attorney representing Creel was immediately available, and efforts to gather further comments from the Pima County Public Defender’s Office did not yield a response by the end of Friday’s business hours.

The Pima County Democratic Party expressed their sorrow in a statement regarding McLean’s unexpected death, highlighting their connection to him during the campaign and acknowledging his long-standing service to Tucson as a third-generation Arizonan. “John was a leader in Pima County even before he stepped up to better our state,” the statement read.

Vince Leach, the Republican candidate who ran against McLean, also offered his sympathies. He described McLean as “a good man who conducted himself honorably as a candidate.”

As of late Friday, the Associated Press had not yet officially determined a winner in the race; however, McLean publicly conceded on Thursday. In a Facebook post, he noted, “It has been an honor and a privilege to run as the Democratic candidate for the LD17 Senate seat.” He expressed pride in the efforts of those who supported him, despite the unfavorable outcome.

Outgoing GOP Senator Justine Wadsack, who previously held the Tucson area seat since 2022, also extended her condolences. She remarked on McLean’s deep ties to the Tucson community, noting his education at the University of Arizona, his career as a business owner in the area, and his commitment as a volunteer with the Humane Society. “This is a travesty in every way,” she stated.