Man Suspected In Wrong-Way Hit & Run Faces Multiple Charges
THORNTON, Colo. (CBS4) - A suspected drunk driver who is accused of injuring four teens in a wrong-way crash in Thornton is facing multiple charges.
According to the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office, Frederick Veloz Jr., 32, is charged with four counts of vehicular eluding resulting in bodily injury, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury, and two counts of reckless vehicular assault.
The crash happened late last Tuesday night. Just after 10 p.m. Thornton police say they located a suspect wanted in connection with a separate hit-and-run in Northglenn at a shopping center located off East 120th Avenue.
"As they attempted to make contact with that suspect vehicle, the vehicle fled out of the shopping center and eastbound onto 120th Avenue," said Thornton Police Officer Matt Barnes.
The suspect traveled northbound in the southbound lanes of North Washington Street into oncoming traffic, leading police along the way.
Police called off the chase near 124th.
"As police came up over a hill they observed the suspect vehicle had hit a victim vehicle head on," said Barnes.
Police would later catch Veloz in a field.
Inside the victim's car were a 17-year-old female driver and three teenage passengers.
"The driver was seriously injured and she had to be extricated from the vehicle," Barnes said. "She was transported by Flight for Life in serious condition."
One of the victims has been identified as Alyssa Sanchez and a GoFundMe page has been set up to help with her medical expenses. It's not clear if Sanchez was the driver who was flown to the hospital.
Veloz was treated and released at a local hospital, and then taken into custody. He remains in custody on a $250,000 bond. He's due back in court on Aug. 22.