A suspected undocumented immigrant involved in a crash Saturday that injured three people in Broomfield walked away from more serious traffic charges, including drunken driving, earlier this year.
Daniel Barrales, 22, was in the courtroom in May when Adams County Judge Jeffrey Liam Rome learned charges had not been prepared. He had no choice but dismiss the case against Barrales, said court spokesman Robert McCallum.
Barrales had been pulled over by a state trooper in Adams County in March. He was cited on charges of driving under the influence, illegal lane change, driving without a license and driving with false plates.
Krista Flanagan, a spokeswoman for the Adams County District Attorney’s office, said late today afternoon it was not immediately clear why charges were not pursued. She said she would contact the prosecutor in the case to find out why.
Immigration officials want him held in the Broomfield Detention Center while agents investigate his citizenship status.
In an unrelated case in August 2007 Barrales pleaded guilty and paid a $72 fine for driving without a license in Adams County after he was ticketed by Commerce City police, records show.
Barrales received only minor injuries Saturday morning when, according to Broomfield police, he ran a red light at West 144th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. A GMC Envoy broadsided Barrales’ minivan, rolling it on its side. The two people in the Envoy were not injured, police said.
A 24-year-old woman, a 3-year-old girl and a 5-month-old boy in the minivan were taken to local hospitals with more serious injuries.
Their names have not been released, but Broomfield police Monday identified them as Barrales’ sister-in-law, niece and nephew.
In addition to immigration issues, Barrales faces charges of careless driving resulting in injury and driving without license.
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
