Photo Released Of Driver Wanted After Colfax Marathon Barrier Crash
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Lakewood are searching for a 30-year-old man who they say crashed a pickup truck onto the Colfax Marathon race course on Sunday morning.
No one was hurt in that crash, but police say Chad Melendez also caused other damage from the behind the wheel by crashing into cars and motorcycles.
An owner of a pot paraphernalia shop noticed the man police say was Melendez parked at a drive-up window and knocked on the window. He thought the driver might have been dead and he called police.
Officers responded just before 8 a.m. and tried to get Melendez out of the vehicle, unsuccessfully deploying a taser at one point, but he drove away and then began causing the destruction.
"I just seen the truck itself coming around the corner and kkkkkrrrr ...a bunch of chaos it sounded like and drug this truck over, knocked the motorcycle over, the motorcycle alarm went off," witness Bob Kaeser told CBS4.
From there, police say Melendez crashed through the barriers on West Colfax Avenue at Wadsworth Boulevard, where the marathon was being run, and drove south.
Officers found the vehicle abandoned.
A warrant has been issued for Melendez. He faces a number of charges, including:
- felony criminal mischief
- reckless endangerment
- felony eluding
- obstruction of peace officer.
Additional Resources
Lakewood police released the following detail about this investigation:
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Chad Melendez is asked to contact the Lakewood Police Department at 303-987-7111.