EDGEWATER – A motorist allegedly involved in a hit-and-run that left a 22-year-old woman critically injured over the weekend in Edgewater turned herself in to police Wednesday.
Triciann N. Valverde, 25, of Wheat Ridge came with her attorney to Edgewater police, and she was booked into Jefferson County jail on investigation of hit and run and causing an accident involving personal injury, authorities said. She was released pending further investigation.
The victim, Erica Lynn Helms, remained in critical condition Wednesday at St. Anthony Central Hospital.
Helms was struck about 1:20 a.m. Sunday in the 2000 block of Sheridan Boulevard, police said.
MORE BRIEFS
DENVER
Car-burglary suspect pulls gun in RTD lot
A car-burglary suspect pulled a gun on a Regional Transportation District security guard Wednesday in the parking lot of the light-rail station at South Broadway and Interstate 25, police said.
The suspect, described as a man in his early to mid-20s, was observed on surveillance cameras casing vehicles in the parking lot. The suspect was able to gain entry into a Saturn in the lot.
When contacted by a guard, he pulled a semiautomatic handgun from his front pocket and pointed the weapon at the guard before running off.
The suspect is about 5 feet 9 inches tall and about 150 pounds with “pockmarks” on his right cheek, police said.
He was wearing a black muscle shirt, black baggy pants and had a blue bandanna in his left rear pocket.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Man sought in death of acquaintance
Police on Wednesday released a composite drawing of a suspect in a shooting Oct. 14 at an apartment in the 3900 block of Harmony Drive in Colorado Springs.
Thomas Hallman, 26, was found shot to death inside the apartment, police said.
The suspect is an acquaintance of Hallman’s known as “Ant,” a man between ages 19 and 21 and about 5 feet 11 inches tall with dark brown or black hair. Police said he is from Denver.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact Colorado Springs police Sgt. Sal Fiorillo at 719-444-7613 or Crime Stoppers at 719-634-STOP (7867).
HIGHLANDS RANCH
Teen killed in crash was Jim Elliot senior
A 17-year-old boy who died after he lost control of his car on East Hampden Avenue near South Colorado Boulevard in snowy weather and hit a utility pole Tuesday was identified as a senior at Jim Elliot Christian School in Highlands Ranch.
Matt Peterson, who died at the scene, was a starter on the basketball team and played soccer for the Denver Academy soccer squad, school officials said.
An 18-year-old passenger, who is also a student at the school, was in serious condition Wednesday at Swedish Hospital.
Police are investigating whether excessive speed and weather contributed to the crash.
BAILEY
Columbine-Canyon ride raises $65,000
The Columbine to Canyon Ride on Oct. 7 raised more than $65,000 for the Emily Keyes “I Love U Guys” fund.
Organizer Dan Patino said 7,227 motorcycles were counted in the ride, which stretched from Columbine High School to Platte Canyon High School.
About $60,000 was raised in registrations and $4,511 by selling food and collecting money in jars around the community.
The fund, which refers to the last text message Emily Keyes sent her parents before a gunman shot her during a Sept. 27 siege at Platte Canyon, will assist all of the girls who were taken hostage.A man was killed and another was injured when a temporary tower collapsed Tuesday and they fell more than 50 feet.
David Desjarlais, 32, of Manitoba, Canada, was killed and Mike Merchant of Hemphill, Texas, was critically injured. The two were setting up an emergency repair tower as part of a demonstration for a power industry conference hosted by Public Service Company of New Mexico.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends affected,” said Jeff Sterba, chairman, president and chief executive officer of PNM Resources. “We are all hoping that the second injured worker will make a full recovery.” Desjarlais was an independent line worker who was helping Toronto-based Tower Solutions with the demonstration. Merchant works for Winco Powerline Services of Oregon.
The accident happened shortly after hundreds of spectators had arrived to check out exhibits and demonstrations during the second day of the conference. The demonstrations were temporarily halted Tuesday until organizers received clearance from authorities to proceed.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was investigating the incident.
Ropes were supporting the tower while crew members attached stronger wire lines, a preliminary report said. As the wires were tightened, one snapped, sending the tower to the ground.
The accident is a reminder of the dangerous work that many utility employees do and how important it is to make safety a top priority, Sterba said.
PNM linemen have taken up a collection to benefit Desjarlais’ family.
