A man police believe may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of an alleged hit-and-run accident has been detained, according to local sources. Pedestrian accidents are unfortunately common, but Colorado police have managed to track down the individual believed to be responsible for this one. The driver is suspected of having been drunk at the time of the crash.
According to this report, an 83-year-old man was walking at Grand Junction Regional Airport the night of May 17. Apparently a vehicle driven by a 32-year-old Grand Junction man ran him down, at which point the driver fled the scene. The older man was left bleeding profusely from a head wound as well as suffering a broken leg.
Thankfully, the man survived his ordeal and is currently being treated at a local hospital where he is said to be in fair condition. Police tracked down the driver, who was driving with a revoked license after an earlier DUI conviction. Officers say they believe the man was once again drunk behind the wheel when this accident occurred because they found him passed out in his vehicle, which was sitting on the shoulder of the road. The driver asserted that the pedestrian leapt in front of his vehicle. Charges are pending.
If the man is found guilty of drunk driving, he will face serious criminal punishment. In pedestrian accidents, as with regular car accidents, Colorado law will also allow the injured man to file a personal injury suit against him in civil court. Presuming evidence exists of intoxication at the time of the accident, such a suit would likely have a good chance of succeeding in a court setting.
Source: krdo.com, “Police: Colorado man hit 83-year-old pedestrian, drove off”, May 24, 2016