A woman who was involved in a fatal crash that killed Phoenix police officer Paul Rutherford last year was indicted by a grand jury on one count of negligent homicide in August, records show. 

Nubia Rodriguez, initially referred to as Nubia Castillo in court documents, was indicted on Aug. 20 — approximately 17 months after Rutherford was fatally struck near 75th Avenue and Indian School Road, police said.

Rutherford was investigating a vehicle collision before he responded to a priority radio call across the street, police said at the time. 

Rutherford was crossing Indian School Road on foot when he was struck by a 2015 Ford Expedition. Rutherford was taken to a nearby hospital in extremely critical condition where he was later declared deceased. 

Officers determined that the driver was not impaired.

Rodriguez was indicted on suspicion of causing Rutherford’s death using a vehicle. 

Rutherford, who was 51 and a nearly 23-year veteran with the Phoenix Police Department, is survived by a wife and two adult children. Hundreds of people filled Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria for his funeral in March 2019. 

Rodriguez pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on Sept. 17.

Rodriguez’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 4 in Maricopa County Superior Court.

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.

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