Lately, the news media has been covering the large amount of hit and runs that have occurred in Colorado this year. Well, a woman from another state took hit and run to a new level. Apparently, the woman hit a pedestrian while driving her car and fled the scene. Only the man was still on her car. She allegedly carried the man for eleven blocks before stopping, removing him, and leaving him in the street.
What Does the Law Say About Hit and Run Accidents in Fort Collins?
Under Colorado law, C.R.S. 42-4-1601 – Accidents Involving Death or Personal Injuries – Duties defines a person’s responsibilities when involved with any traffic incident. It states:
You are required to stop if you are involved in any accident and stay until the police have arrived.
Basically, in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, you are required to stop if you are involved in any accident and stay until the police have arrived and have all the required identifying information they need. This includes calling police if you hit a parked car. Drivers can get in trouble when they forget to call police and leave by agreement. Some uninsured drivers are tempted to persuade the driver they hit to settle the case without police involvement. This can result in an accident where the innocent party is charged with a crime for Failure to Notify Police.
If this law is violated in Larimer, Boulder or Grand County, a person can be charged with:
(b) A class 4 felony if the accident resulted in serious bodily injury to any person;
(c) A class 3 felony if the accident resulted in the death of any person.
If you are convicted of the class 1 misdemeanor, you can spend up to 18 months in the Larimer County Jail. For a class 4 felony, the sentence can include up to 6 years in prison (DOC), and with a class 3 felony there is a potential 12 year sentence to DOC.