Aurora – A man who ran over and killed a girl who darted across busy East Mississippi Avenue on her bike has been cited for driving while ability impaired.
Police believed James Brooks, 61, was drunk when the sport utility vehicle he was driving struck and killed 10-year-old Erica Williams on Mississippi at South Salida Street on July 9.
A Breathalyzer showed Brooks’ blood-alcohol content to be 0.075, just under the 0.08 percent standard at which a driver is considered to be under the influence in Colorado.
Police Lt. Troy Edwards said results from blood tests taken from Brooks showed his blood-alcohol content to be 0.05 – just at the limit to be considered driving while ability impaired.
Brooks was issued a citation for the misdemeanor offense.
At this week’s Aurora City Council meeting, Erica’s mother, Nancy Williams, made an emotional plea to the council to put a traffic light at the intersection.
“What happened to my daughter will happen again until you act,” Williams told the council.
She presented the council with a petition containing 150 signatures in support of placing a traffic light there.
City officials have said they are studying the issue, but when neighbors requested that a traffic light be installed at the intersection in 1990, it did not meet the criteria for one. Those include how many vehicles travel on the road, speed of the motorists, how many people cross and other factors.
Erica’s 16-year-old brother, Brian Bach, said he wishes Brooks had been charged with a more serious crime.
“I think it’s unfair,” Brian said.
Brooks could not be reached for comment.
