Fatal Crashes Becoming A Disturbing Trend In Denver Metro Area
DENVER (CBS4) - It was a particularly deadly weekend on Denver roads. Three people were killed in three different crashes.
Early Sunday morning a motorcyclist was killed at 1st and Broadway. The 27-year-old man was sideswiped by a car and hit a parking meter and trash can.
April Wilson was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide.
Less than an hour later, a 39-year-old pedestrian was hit and killed crossing Colfax near Logan. Police say the driver left the scene but returned a few minutes later.
Ryan Winicki , 40, was arrested for vehicular homicide in that case.
In both of those crashes the drivers are suspected of speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Fatal crashes are becoming a disturbing trend across the Denver metro area, and police say those two factors are playing heavily into that trend.
"Speed is becoming more and more of a factor," Denver police Lt. Rob Rock said. "We're finding folks that are disregarding the speed limits 20 to 30 miles an hour over. People ask us all the time 'Does speed kill?' Yes it does."
The first few months of this year have been particularly deadly.
So far this year there have been 21 fatal crashes in Denver compared to 16 at this time last year.
In Aurora there have been 15 vehicle collison related deaths compared to 19 in all of 2014.
"If we continue on this trend that we're going right now, we could actually triple our numbers," said Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz.
Metz said as we approach prom, high school graduation and summer break, now is the time to talk to teens about safe driving.
