Aurora boy, 16, killed while riding scooter in hit-and-run crash, police say

A 16-year-old boy was struck while riding a scooter in Aurora and later died in the hospital. Police later credited the community for helping identify a suspect who allegedly fled the scene. He was arrested later that night.

The crash happened around 11:15 p.m. Friday at East Wesley Drive and South Dunkirk Street, Aurora police said on Saturday morning. The boy was conscious but with serious injuries when first responders arrived. He was taken to the hospital, but later died.

A vehicle struck the boy from behind while he was riding in the marked bike lane and then fled the area, police said, and there were no witnesses to the crash.

Investigators had no information about the vehicle that was involved, other than that nearby residents reported hearing loud exhaust around the time of the crash, and are asking anyone with cameras in the area of the crash to check their cameras' footage from 11:15 to 11:20 p.m.

Uzziel Hernandez says he was in his bedroom Friday evening with the window open when he heard the collision.

"We do hear a lot of cars speeding off and do hear a lot of mufflers, but that collision and then the speeding off -- that combo was enough for me to know that something went wrong," Hernandez said. "I ran over and there was no collision on the four-way stop, but as I got deeper, I saw the kid laid out on the street."

Aurora police asked anyone with footage or information about the crash to contact them.

"Check your cameras, see if you see a car speeding off," Hernandez said.

That request brought in numerous tips from the community, which helped police identify the suspect vehicle and develop leads.

The suspect, 19-year-old Daveon Javon-James Jackson of Aurora, was arrested shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday. He's now facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death, careless driving resulting in death, hit and run, and failing to report a crash to police.

Hernandez says this isn't the first time this happened near here. In April, Rafael Buitrago, his wife Luz, and their dog Nova were walking their dog just down the street from this most recent deadly collision. Michael Graham-Hyde lost control of his car and killed Rafael.

Graham-Hyde fled the scene but turned himself in to the police hours later. He reached a plea deal in that case last Monday.