Help Jette

What happened

Jette Heldenbrand, 16, was walking in a crosswalk near Baseline Road and Calle Los Cerros Drive late on Friday, September 4, 2026, when a driver hit her and kept going. The crash happened just after 10:30 p.m., near the Tempe–Phoenix border.

Jette was taken to Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa with a severe traumatic brain injury, a broken arm, and extensive cuts and bruises. She remains in the ICU, and her recovery is expected to be a long one.

Her family is living at the hospital while the medical bills pile up and the driver is still unidentified. Anything you can offer — money, a meal, or a tip to police — reaches them directly.

At a glance

Where she is: ICU at Banner Desert Medical Center, Mesa
Visitors: Not at this time — the family asks that people hold off while she is in intensive care
Who set this up: Family friends Ali Beatty (fundraiser) and the meal-train organizers

Donate to Jette's medical fund

The GoFundMe goes to Jette's hospital bills, rehabilitation, and the everyday costs of a family that has stopped working to sit beside her.

Donate on GoFundMe

Organized by Ali Beatty of Phoenix. Donations are processed by GoFundMe and are not tax-deductible. Sharing the link helps almost as much as giving.

Send the family a meal

The Give InKind page keeps a calendar so meals arrive spread out instead of all at once. You can cook something, order takeout, or have a delivery sent straight to the hospital.

Claim a day on the meal calendar

Before you order

Deliver to: Banner Desert Medical Center, 1400 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa, AZ 85202 — leave it at the reception desk under Natalie's name.
Which entrance: Use the west entrance. Do not send food to the women's and children's entrance.
Food to avoid: No eggs and no dairy.
What works best: Low fat, low carb, high protein, medium spice.

Jette is still in the ICU, so the family is not receiving visitors. Drop-offs at the desk only, please.

Seen the car? Call Tempe police

Tempe detectives are still looking for the driver. If you have seen a car matching the description below, or you know anything about that night, investigators want to hear from you.

480-350-8311

Tempe Police Department, 24 hours.

To stay anonymous, text the keyword TEMPEPD along with your tip to 847411.

Call 480-350-8311

A partial plate, a repair shop, a parked car with fresh damage — small details have broken cases like this one.

What police are looking for

Dark gray four-door Mazda 3 sedan, model years 2014 to 2016
Heavy damage to the front driver's side, including the headlamp assembly and bumper area
Likely missing most or all of its front bumper cover

Reference photos of a dark gray Mazda 3 sedan released by Tempe police — Reference images released by Tempe police. These are not photos of the actual car involved. (Tempe Police via Arizona's Family)