A red semi pulling a box-cargo trailer struck and killed a 44-year-old man walking on the shoulder of East 88th Avenue this morning, authorities say.
The pedestrian, identified as Jadelton Cazenave of Denver, was walking east on 88th Avenue when the truck turned off the Interstate-76 ramp and made a right hand turn onto East 88th Avenue, said Trooper Gilbert Mares of the Colorado State Patrol.
State Patrol troopers have collected evidence that suggests the driver knew he struck Cazenave but continued driving on eastbound East 88th Avenue after the accident, Mares said.
A witness said the truck driver honked his horn just before the accident, Mares said.
Minutes after the accident, the suspect may have pulled into property owned by DPI Rocky Mountain at 8125 E. 88th Ave. in Henderson. The driver was seen getting out of the truck, walking to the corner of the truck that struck the victim and inspecting it for damage, Mares said.
The driver then drove away, he said.
According to video surveillance at the DPI Rocky Mountain property, the suspect was wearing a white T-shirt, black shorts and blue shoes.
The tractor trailer involved in the accident appears to be a red 2002-2005 Volvo with a sloped nose. The truck has a single smoke stack on the passenger side. The trailer is white with a “refer” attachment.
When the suspect drove onto the DPI property, a black 1999-2001 Freightliner semi with a white trailer also drove onto the property at the same time. When the suspect left the DPI property, this second truck also left, Mares said.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
