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Denver Police ID Man Who Crashed SUV Into Building

DENVER (CBS4/AP) - Authorities have released the name of a man who plowed into the corner of a building in south Denver with his SUV, injuring himself and four others.

Ryan Nuanez (suspect, Car Into Optical Store, from DenverPD)
Ryan Nuanez (credit: Denver Police Department)

Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said Sunday that Ryan Nuanez, 24, is still in the hospital after he crashed his Chevy Tahoe into an Accent Optics store at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and East Amherst Avenue on Saturday morning.

Car into building
The scene of the crash (credit: CBS)

Police say the owner of Accent Optics – A 60-year-old woman -- was left in critical condition. Three others suffered serious injuries -- a 58-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman and Nuanez.

Jackson says Nuanez suffered serious arm injuries.

The SUV, which was traveling on the wrong side of the street, narrowly missed a lamp post and a fire hydrant before it crashed into the building. Jackson says there is no indication the driver tried to slow down before hitting the store.

Car into building
The scene of the crash (credit: CBS)

"There was apparently no steering, corrective steering to bring him back onto the roadway," Jackson told CBS4. "We don't see any physical evidence of braking, that is skid marks or any evidence that he was braking."

Police believe Nuanez was under the influence of some kind of drug when the crash occurred.

RELATED: 4 Injured After SUV Crashes Into Business On Colorado Boulevard

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