Genieve Vega’s relatives describe a devoted sister and adventurous dog owner as police continue searching for the hit-and-run driver.
PHOENIX, Ariz. — As Phoenix investigators continue searching for the driver who struck Genieve Vega and her dog, Baxter, Vega’s family is remembering the 35-year-old as a supportive older sister whose work, travels and love of the outdoors helped connect people across several states.
Vega and Baxter were struck Oct. 24 while Vega was attempting to cross the 800 block of East Missouri Avenue. Authorities say the vehicle fled east after the collision and may have been a champagne-colored Toyota Sienna minivan. Baxter died, while Vega was hospitalized with severe injuries and later died on Oct. 31.
For Vega’s family, the police investigation is unfolding alongside the loss of a woman they described as a major influence on her two younger brothers. Her brother Joseph Vega, who lives in North Carolina, said his sister had supported and encouraged him and remained closely involved in his life despite the distance between them.
Family accounts describe Vega as the oldest of three siblings. She shared outdoor activities with her brothers, including rock climbing and paddleboarding, and maintained regular contact with them through video calls. Those details have become part of the family’s effort to remember her beyond the circumstances of the collision.
A fundraiser established on behalf of Joseph Vega says Genieve Vega built friendships in different parts of the country and had a way of making people feel cared for and remembered. The family said she helped Joseph establish himself in a new state and encouraged his path toward nursing.
Vega also worked in physical therapy and traveled for work, according to the family’s account. Baxter accompanied her through that period and was described as part of the active life she built. The dog was not simply at the scene of the crash but was closely associated with Vega’s travels and outdoor interests, according to her relatives.
The family’s grief has been accompanied by practical costs from Vega’s hospitalization, travel and memorial arrangements. A fundraising campaign was established to help cover expenses connected with her death and to support relatives who traveled after the collision. The campaign has drawn hundreds of donations.
Police, meanwhile, have not publicly identified a suspect. Silent Witness lists the collision as a fatal hit-and-run and says investigators are trying to identify either the vehicle or its driver. The organization is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information in the case.
The official case notice places the collision at approximately 7 p.m. Oct. 24 on East Missouri Avenue. Investigators say the suspected vehicle continued east after striking Vega. Authorities have not released a license plate number or announced that a particular Toyota Sienna has been located.
Joseph Vega has said he hopes the person responsible will come forward. For the family, the unanswered question of who was driving remains tied to the loss of both Vega and Baxter and to an investigation that has continued into November without a publicly announced arrest.
Silent Witness continues to list the case as open as investigators seek information about the vehicle and driver. No suspect has been publicly named.
Author note: Last updated Nov. 7, 2026.