A car thief drove a vehicle over a group of homeless people sleeping in a grassy area beside Interstate 25 early this morning, killing one and injuring two, officials say.
The names of the dead and injured victims have not been released.
Denver police investigators do not know how many people were in the stolen car when the driver lost control on the exit ramp at 20th Avenue, said John White, Denver police spokesman.
The car was stolen in Sheridan. At 3:30 a.m., the driver was going at a high rate of speed and lost control of car.
The vehicle careened through an area where several homeless people were sleeping in grass in sleeping bags. Back packs and sleeping bags were strew across the ground.
The three were rushed to a local hospital, where one was pronounced dead, one was in treatment for serious injuries and a third had minor injuries, White said.
Immediately after the accident, the driver and an unknown number of passengers bolted from the scene of the crash.
The case remains under investigation, White said.
The suspects face numerous possible charges including car theft, careless driving, speeding, and being responsible for and accident that caused death and injuries.
The intersection is a popular spot for panhandling.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
