Deadly Hit & Run Started As Street Racing, Teen Arrested
DENVER (CBS4) - Police said a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian on Sunday night started as a street racing.
Police rushed to the scene just before 9 p.m. Sunday where a man had been struck by an orange Dodge Caliber while crossing Alameda Avenue. The man, 26-year-old Nick Richling of Denver, did not survive the collision.
The driver of the Caliber ditched the car a short distance away and walked away from the crash.
Police caught up to the suspect driver, a 17-year-old male from Denver. The juvenile was arrested on investigation of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death.
He was driving with an instructional permit, not a license. He called his family after leaving the scene according to police. His family then called Denver police.
Police said after interviewing witnesses, the crash was attributed to street racing.
"The driver of the Dodge Caliber was stopped at the stoplight eastbound Alameda at Perry Street. There was a black sedan in one of the adjacent lanes. Witnesses gave us credible information that they were revving their engines and they were acting as though they were preparing for a drag race and in fact when the light turned green both vehicles left the intersection at a high rate of speed with the Caliber striking the pedestrian at Lowell," said Denver Police Traffic Investigations Sgt. Mike Farr.
Police hope there is surveillance video of the incident from businesses along Alameda from Perry Street to Lowell that show the other vehicle involved.
"We're looking for any of the businesses along the route that may have captured this event in any stage that it occurred from Perry to Lowell and maybe even Morrison Road where the vehicle turned off and came to a stop," said Farr.
The juvenile driver has not been identified.
Jennifer Brice is a reporter with CBS4 focusing on crime and courts. Follow her on Facebook or on Twitter @CBS4Jenn.
