A Colorado man who police say was driving recklessly before mowing down a 68-year-old pedestrian in Northglenn is now in jail awaiting trial on manslaughter charges, CBS4 reports.
Isaac Aranda was arrested in early late January, just one day after the accident that claimed the life of Debra Blanchard. Aranda was charged with negligent manslaughter and ordered held behind bars on a $20,000 bond, according to the local news outlet.
Police officers told CBS4 that they believed “the driver was under the influence” at the time of the accident. They also described the crash as a hit and run.
Aranda was said to be observed driving erratically before his sport utility rammed into Blanchard, who was on a sidewalk near the 10400 block of Washington Street. The vehicle fled the scene, according to police, and Aranada was apprehended after striking a fence.
The tragic crash is another unfortunate reminder that pedestrian accidents can and do happen. It follows a pair of collisions late last year that left pedestrians dead in Denver and Aurora.
More than 6,000 pedestrians are killed in accidents across the country each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More than one-third of those accidents happen between the hours of 6 p.m and 9 p.m.
SUVs, like the one that Aranda was reportedly driving, pose a particular threat to people traveling by foot.
Those vehicles are more likely than other cars to cause fatalities in accidents with pedestrians, according to a recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Late-model SUVs are particularly lethal because of design elements that make them more likely to throw pedestrians forward in the event of a collision.
How a Denver Accident Lawyer Can Help You Get Compensation
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, pedestrian or other accident in Colorado, a Denver accident lawyer at Levine Law can help you understand your legal rights and options for seeking compensation.
State law empowers you to hold negligent drivers and others responsible for accidents and get money damages for your injuries. That includes compensation for medical bills, property damage, missed wages while recuperating and a wide range of other economic impacts of a crash.
In the tragic event that a person dies in an accident, certain family members can also pursue justice through a wrongful death action.
At Levine Law, our Denver personal injury attorneys combine decades of experience helping people injured in a wide range of accidents get the money they deserve. We have a well-established track record of successful results for our clients.
Our lawyers are pleased to serve clients throughout Colorado, including in Denver, Colorado Springs, Ft. Collins and Loveland. Call us at 303-333-8000 or contact us online to speak with a Denver car accident lawyer.