Police Find Truck Involved In Deadly Hit & Run

DENVER (CBS4) - Denver police have found the white GMC pickup truck spotted on surveillance video involved in a hit-and-run of a valet who was killed while working at a night club on Lincoln Street.

The truck was found earlier Tuesday in Commerce City. Investigators have not made any arrests.

Jose Medina died after being hit by the truck Saturday night. He was working as a parking valet at the Rock Star Lounge on Lincoln Street.

The business did not have a permit for the valet service. It's an annual license that businesses have to apply for with a traffic plan that's approved by Denver Public Works. The valet company is run by the victim's cousin who has a good relationship with the club. But the city says regardless, the club did not have a proper valet license.

"It's not anything you can plan for, it's just one of those things that you can't explain, you know why an accident like that would happen," Rock Star Lounge owner Patrick Wilson told CBS4.

Rock Star Lounge had only been open for 7 weeks before Medina's death.

"I thought about the 20 minutes that I had spent with Jose prior to the night beginning, just his enthusiasm level and how nice he was," Wilson said.

It was Medina's first night as a valet when he was hit.

It's procedure that businesses offering valet service apply for a license but the city says there is no record of one for the Rock Star Lounge.

"No, the Rock Star Lounge does not have a license," said Penny May, Director of Excise and Licenses.

May says a license is necessary for safety reasons

"It's a safety issue. It's safety not only for the owners of the vehicles that are being moved from one spot to another, but for the company as well, they have to show some proof of insurance and liability and personal injury," May said.

"Were investigating everything right now," Wilson said.

Wilson believes a license wouldn't have made a difference.

"I don't think it would have been a different story. You have cabs for all the local businesses that drop off right in front of us. The police pull people over in that spot for driving during certain times of the day that you aren't supposed to drive in that lane," Wilson said.

The city is waiting for the investigation to wrap up before deciding what action, if any, to take against the club owners.

Wilson said his focus is helping Medina's family.

"We are not planning on having any valet until the grieving process is resolved … and also looking into making sure that we understand what the compliances are and we are in compliance with everything we have to be," he said.

The club is planning to have a benefit for the Medina family. They want to make sure they can cover funeral expenses and that his fiancé will be compensated for any time off of work.

The club is also urging anyone with information on the hit-and-run vehicle to call Denver police.