UPDATE | Tuesday, 1:30 p.m. — Witnesses told investigators that they believe a driver intentionally hit three pedestrians walking on a sidewalk in Highlands Ranch on Monday morning, killing one and seriously injuring the other two. Read our updated story here.
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HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — One person has died and two others were seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash in Highlands Ranch late Monday morning, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said.
The driver suspected in the wreck was reportedly traveling eastbound on E. Wildcat Reserve Parkway when the Ford F150 went off the road and hit pedestrians on the sidewalk near Willowbridge Way.
- Watch the news conference with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in the video player below.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said a witness followed the hit-and-run suspect to Daniels Park, which helped law enforcement locate the suspect and take them into custody.
Deborah Takahara, a Douglas County Sheriff's Office spokesperson, said investigators are still working to determine what caused the crash.
"We don't know if this was an intentional act or if it was a crash of reckless driving or distracted driving, that is still under investigation," Takahara said.
Takhara said the roadway has a history of speed-related concerns.
"I did ask our traffic division for kind of assessment of this roadway, and they say there have been reports of speeding in this area in the past," Takahara said.
The deadly incident has rattled neighbors like Pamela Rennall, who says driving on Wildcat Ridge Parkway has become increasingly dangerous.
"It's become scary and nerve-wracking," Rennall said. "There's definitely a lot of accidents here."
Rennall said the crash reflects a broader problem on the road.
"It's reckless driving, it's negligence, it's just distracting. I don't know, it's not okay. And clearly, you're going at a speed that you couldn't stop. That's another problem," Rennall said.
Residents are now calling for more traffic lights and increased patrols, particularly given the multiple schools and high foot traffic in the area.
"When does this stop? Like, when, how does this get fixed? And who's doing it? And how do we find out what's going on? Because this can't keep happening, because it does, and nothing seems to be changing," Rennall said. "I want to see who's gonna step up and make the change."
DCSO investigators are still looking for anyone who may have witnessed the suspect’s driving behavior before the crash or observed events immediately after the crash in the area shown on the map. They are also seeking additional camera footage from homes or businesses in the area.
If you have information or video footage that could help, you're asked to contact Detective Pereira at: bpereira@dcsheriff.net or call: 303-660-7537.
This is a developing story. Denver7 is working to learn more.
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