Alleged Drunk Driver Strikes Young Man Crossing Street
By Tom Mustin
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- A young man's life will never be the same again after he was struck by an alleged drunk driver while walking home from work.
"I hope he's okay."
Outside Parker Adventist Hospital, a devastated Kelly Moore described the injuries to her son caused by an alleged drunk driver.
"He has a broken neck, broken femur and eight broken ribs," Moore told CBS4's Tom Mustin.
On Monday at approximately 10:30 p.m., 21-year-old Diondre Moore had just ended his shift at 7-Eleven, when he began to walk home.
As he crossed the intersection of Broncos Parkway and Jordan, an SUV, allegedly driven by 31-year-old Lluvia Morales plowed into him.
"He's a lot of pain, so he's not talking a lot. A lot of pain medications. He's just thankful to be alive, honestly."
The suspect has a long rap sheet including arrests for shoplifting and assault.
Kelly says deputies told her Morales was arrested a few blocks from the accident and alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash.
"Police told us the driver refused a breathalyzer test and they took her here to the hospital. They did a blood test and she's drunk."
Kelly says Diondre has a long road to recovery.
She became emotional describing her son, "He's the funniest guy you'll know. The one that's there to help everyone else out."
And with her son facing months and perhaps years of recovery, Moore has little sympathy for the woman believed to have been behind the wheel.
"If people are driving and it's an accident, it's one thing. But if you're drinking and driving, there's no excuse."
Morales was taken to the Arapahoe County Justice Center. The arrest involved Aurora police, the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Parker police and the Colorado State Patrol. Because the arrest involved several agencies, the specific charges have not been released.
Diondre's family has set us a GoFundMe page to help with his medical expenses.