Hit-and-run suspect who plowed into Jeep, causing fiery explosion that killed ... - The Denver Channel
DENVER - A hit-and-run suspect accused of plowing into the back of a Jeep, igniting a deadly, fiery explosion early Monday has been identified by Denver police. Ricardo Gardea was driving a white Dodge Durango eastbound on West 44th Avenue when he failed to stop at a red light at Federal Boulevard and slammed into the back of a black Jeep Wrangler, causing its gas tank to explode, police said. The flames engulfed the Jeep, its driver and a passenger as it continued to roll almost two blocks before stopping, according to a police report. The out-of-control Durango careened through the intersection, hitting two westbound vehicles, and then striking a parked car and shoving it into another parked vehicle, police said. Officers arriving at the six-vehicle crash at about 6:30 a. m. learned that a witness had used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames that had engulfed the Jeep's driver and passenger. The badly burned Jeep driver was transported in critical condition to the University of Colorado Hospital, where the driver later died, the police report said. The Jeep's passenger, who suffered 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns was transported in critical condition to Denver Health Medical Center. Source: www.thedenverchannel.com
