A Denver police officer who struck a pickup, killing a passenger and seriously injuring its driver, while responding to a distress call in October has been issued a summons for two misdemeanor counts of careless driving, authorities said Wednesday.
Ronald Helm, 42, was responding to a “Code 10” with his car’s lights and siren activated the night of Oct. 7 when he sped through a red light and into an intersection, striking an Isuzu Rodeo.
Helm faces charges of careless driving resulting in death and careless driving resulting in serious bodily injury because he failed to exercise the “necessary precautions” when driving through the red light, Denver district attorney’s office spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough said.
“An officer who’s responding, what they call Code 10, with lights and siren, can go through a controlled intersection but must take necessary precautions to avoid a collision,” Kimbrough said.
Helm was headed south on Syracuse Street about 11:30 p.m. at an unknown speed in a 30-mph zone when he went through a red light at East 17th Avenue and struck the westbound Isuzu.
Ulises Solis, 38, was pinned underneath the Isuzu. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Isuzu’s driver, Jaime Solis-Dominguez, 31, of Denver, suffered serious injuries. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Helm also was injured in the crash. He too could not be reached for comment.
Helm was responding to a call to back up another officer at the time of the accident, police said. He was about two blocks from his destination when the crash occurred, police said.
Helm was served the summons Wednesday through his attorney, police spokesman John White said.
Authorities contacted late Wednesday were not certain what penalties Helm could face if convicted. The misdemeanors could carry up to 18 months in jail if there is a conviction, Kimbrough said.
Helm has been reassigned to nonpatrol duties pending the outcome of the case, police said.
Denver’s independent police monitor, Richard Rosenthal, has been following the investigation.
“At this point we do wait to see what the results of the criminal case are,” Rosenthal said.
Manny Gonzales: 303-954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com
