DENVER — Police in Denver are investigating four separate fatal crashes this weekend, three of which involved hit-and-run drivers.
The incidents occurred on Interstate 25, W. Colfax Avenue, and Interstate 70, with pedestrians being struck in multiple cases.
The first crash occurred early Saturday morning on I-25 at S. Colorado Boulevard.
At least one person was killed after a two-vehicle hit-and-run crash that also shut down southbound 1-25 for several hours.
Police have not released a full description of the vehicle that fled the scene, saying only they are looking for a dark-colored pickup truck.
The second crash occurred early Sunday morning at the intersection of W. Colfax Avenue and N. Speer Boulevard. It involved a hit-and-run driver.
A pedestrian was struck and killed in that crash. A vehicle description was not provided.
Shortly after, police were called to another hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian on I-25.
Police said a vehicle struck and killed the victim, who was on foot on the freeway near the W. 23rd Avenue on-ramp.
Police do not have a description of the suspect vehicle involved in that crash.
The fourth fatal crash occurred around 7:30 a.m. and involved a pedestrian on I-70.
Police said the victim was struck in the westbound lanes near the Federal Boulevard exit. Police are not looking for the driver involved in this crash.
The Denver Police Department says there have been 26 fatal crashes to date this year; three more than there were by this time last year.
AAA says these incidents reflect a growing trend.
"When we look at that data, at who's actually getting killed in traffic crashes, it's a massive increase among pedestrians and bicyclists, and we tend to see an increase in those deaths and those serious injuries in the urban core," said Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA.
Aylene McCallum, who serves as the City of Denver Transportation and Infrastructure Advisory committee's co-chair, thinks it highlights a growing need for pedestrian safety improvements.
"When a pedestrian finds that they need to walk in an unsafe area, we really need to start asking the question of, why did they feel compelled to walk in a place that wasn't safe for them? Is it because of the infrastructure wasn't safe enough? Or was it because there were no other rational choices for them to take?" said McCallum.
Investigations are ongoing as police work to identify those responsible.
DPD encourages anyone with information about these crashes or the suspects/suspect vehicles to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.
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