4 Teens Injured In Wrong-Way Hit & Run Involving Suspected Drunk Driver
By Andrea Flores
THORNTON, Colo. (CBS4) - Four teens are recovering from injuries after a suspected drunk driver hit them head-on late Tuesday night in Thornton.
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 the suspect in a field. He's been identified as 32-year-old Fredrick Veloz.
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.
Police say alcohol is suspected as a factor in the crash.
The suspect was treated and released at a local hospital, and then taken into custody.
Police say the suspect faces vehicular assault, DUI, hit-and-run, and reckless driving charges.
Andrea Flores is a reporter for CBS4. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @AndreaFloresTV.