The motorist killed in a crash on South Kipling Parkway in Lakewood on Monday morning was an 84-year-old man on his way to a nearby bowling alley, according to the Lakewood Police Department.
The man, whose name has not been released, was northbound on Kipling and was turning left onto West Kentucky Avenue when he was hit by a southbound vehicle driven by off-duty Denver Police Officer Gregory Vacca, said Steve Davis, spokesman for the Lakewood Police Department.
Davis said the 84-year-old was on his way to his bowling league at about 8:35 a.m. He said the league was meeting at the bowling alley off Kentucky and just west of Kipling.
Davis said that Vacca, 29, had just completed his night shift for the Denver Police Department.
Lakewood investigators have interviewed nine witnesses, and estimates of Vacca’s speed range from between 45 and 50 mph, said Davis.
Preliminary indications are that Vacca was not driving at an “excessive speed,” said Davis. He added that the speed limit on Kipling is 45 mph.
He said Vacca had a green light as he traveled southbound on Kipling and that the elderly motorist apparently turned into his path.
Davis stressed the investigation into the accident is continuing.
Vacca suffered injuries, but they were not considered life-threatening.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
