A teenager who police said was driving while distracted was cited Wednesday in a weekend crash that killed a Denver mother of four.
The 17-year-old, whose name has not been released because of her age, was cited with careless driving resulting in death, according to Denver police.
On Wednesday, the victim’s family said the last hours of Debra Medina’s life were spent doing what she most loved.
“She was singing with the band,” said her son, Anthony Medina, 32. “She was with friends, it was a beautiful day and I know that when she left, she was happy.”
Medina, 50, died Sunday evening when her car was hit by the teenage driver’s car. Police said the teen ran a red light at Colorado Boulevard and East Colfax Avenue.
The Medina family, which includes her four children — ages 32 to 17 — and two grandchildren, is praying for the teen and her family.
“It’s more than just the Medinas who are suffering,” Anthony said. “We tend to lose the human compassion for life these days. If someone passes, it is usually their time, and it was my mother’s time.
“Of course we are upset with the girl, and we’re hurting that she did this, but we know she is hurting too.”
Debra Medina was described by family members as a free spirit who loved classic rockers such as Heart and Steve Miller — and a woman who proudly sported tattoos on her chest and arms, and loved to ride motorcycles.
“She was a really cool chick,” Anthony said. “Everyone got along with my mom.”
He spent Wednesday afternoon at the mortuary and visiting churches to see where the family might hold its memorial service.
A candlelight vigil was held Monday night at the intersection where the accident occurred, and one of the participants put up a sign that reminded people not to text while driving.
“It wasn’t a family member,” Anthony said. “We don’t know if she was texting or what. ‘Distracted driving’ can mean eating, talking on the phone, texting or looking at a map.”
Police have declined to release what the teen was doing at the time of the crash.
Anthony describes his mother as a cautious driver who wouldn’t take a phone call while driving. She’d pull over and then call back, he said.
But the family wants to use Debra Medina’s death as a warning against distracted driving.
“We all get impatient behind the wheel,” Anthony said. “We all experience a form of road rage in some shape or form. We’ve all used a phone or distracted ourselves from the road.”
Even if texting was not involved in his mother’s death, he believes it is still a problem on the road, despite the new law.
“It’s still an issue today,” he said. “People are dying as a result of text ing and driving.”
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
