A Westminster High School student died Friday, two days after she was struck by the driver of a Chevrolet Blazer while walking home from school, Federal Heights police said.
Lourdes Amaro, 16, was walking in the crosswalk eastbound on 96th Avenue about 3:35 p.m. Wednesday with her sister on a green light when she was struck by the 1985 Chevy Blazer being driven by 52-year-old Rickie Dale Goodyear.
Federal Heights police Lt. Gary Toldness said Goodyear was parked behind another car on 96th Avenue which might have obstructed his view of the girls in the crosswalk when he was turning left to go south on Federal Boulevard.
Goodyear also told police that the sun was in his eyes, Toldness said.
Police say Goodyear hit his brakes as soon as he saw the girl, skid and hit her.
Lourdes was taken to St. Anthony Central Hospital with head injuries and a broken femur. She died Friday.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, but police say they do not consider speed, alcohol or careless driving to be a factor. Toldness said investigators estimate Goodyear was traveling about 21 mph at the time.
It’s likely that Goodyear will receive a citation for failure to yield to a pedestrian, but no criminal charges are expected, Toldness said.
