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Driver Says He Took Narcotics Medication Prior To Crashes

BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - A single driver blamed for a string of accidents on 19th Street in Boulder allegedly admitted he took narcotics medication prior to the crashes.

Firefighters had to pull one person out of a vehicle after Monday night's chaos came to an end, and police said a child was seriously hurt and remained in the hospital on Tuesday. Ten people in all were hospitalized.

Investigators say Sean Moreno, 33, was the driver of a pickup truck that careened through the street after 7 p.m. Monday at speeds of up to 90 mph.

Witnesses say the suspect's pickup hit a vehicle on Cedar Avenue at one point and smashed into four vehicles from behind while they were stopped at a red light in the most drastic collision. Nine vehicles in all were damaged or involved in some way.

Sean Marino
Sean Marino (credit: Boulder Sheriff)

"I was sitting in the driver's side, just looking forward and it was smash-smash and we get hit and glass is flying everywhere and the only thing I can think is 'My god, my son is in the back seat I hope he's okay.' I turn around and he's screaming and crying," said driver Keith Wilcox.

Police arrested Moreno after he was discharged from the hospital. Authorities said Tuesday that he admitted to taking narcotics medication on Morning morning, but that he also says the accelerator was stuck on his truck. Witnesses at the scene told CBS4 the suspect was making claims about a mechanical issue with the truck right afterwards.

"My friend went to go talk to him and he claimed that his accelerator was stuck and his brake pedal didn't work but I can't confirm or deny the veracity of that," Wilcox said.

Police also said Moreno didn't remember hitting anything, but remembered the noise of the collisions and his air bag deploying. He suffered a broken arm and several cuts.

Moreno tentatively faces multiple charges, including vehicular assault, DUI, hit & run and reckless driving.

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