Christmas Car Crash in Northeast Denver Leaves One Woman Dead; Other Driver Flees the Scene

It has been reported that a two-vehicle collision occurred in northeast Denver around 12:30 in the morning of December 25^th, when a Ford Explorer collided with a minivan at 51^st Street and Peoria. A woman driving the minivan later died from the collision, with an adult male and two children who were passengers in the vehicle being hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. It was also reported that the driver and passenger of the other vehicle fled the scene, with one of them later being arrested and facing charges of hit and run, vehicular assault, and vehicular homicide.

Colorado law (C.R.S. 42-4-1601, 1603) places certain duties on people involved in a car accident, and failure to follow the law can expose violators to both civil and criminal liability. If you are involved in a serious accident, particularly where an injury is involved, you are obligated to alert the police (call 9-1-1) and remain on the scene until law enforcement arrives. You are also required to render aid to an injured person within your abilities, which may include transporting the victim to the hospital or making other arrangements, such as calling 911 and requesting an ambulance. Finally, you are required to exchange information with the other driver, including your name, address, vehicle registration number, and driver's license number on request.

Leaving the scene of an accident can be either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending upon the severity of the accident, with up to twelve years in jail as a punishment for the crime. As to civil liability, a person whose negligence or wrongful conduct caused the accident can be liable for economic and noneconomic damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. By leaving the scene and possibly showing disregard for the injured victim, the negligent driver may be exposed to punitive damages as well. The civil case will likely be stayed until the criminal case is concluded, and a conviction for hit and run or leaving the scene of the accident can be powerful evidence used against the defendant in a civil action.

In the event a hit and run driver is never found, the injured victim may still be able to recover against his or her own automobile insurance policy, if the insured was carrying Uninsured Motorist coverage on the policy.