BROOMFIELD, Colo. (KDVR) — Memorial Day weekend is historically one of many busiest of the yr on Colorado roadways, and this yr isn’t any exception.
With COVID restrictions loosening throughout the state, many are viewing the weekend as their first actual probability to journey in additional than a yr.
“It was going to be a enjoyable, household weekend,” Melanie Hitt mentioned. “Lastly get to come back down and go to the mother and father after a number of months of not seeing them.”
Hitt and her husband had been caravanning in separate automobiles from their house in Silverthorne to Broomfield Friday evening, after they made the flip onto a hundred and twentieth Avenue close to Interstate 25.
“Simply made that flip, and from out of nowhere, this little black automotive, blur, simply type of missed me by 3, 4 toes, however he nailed my husband,” Hitt mentioned.
Hitt mentioned the motive force crossed the median, and took off, getting again on the freeway to go south.
Northglenn Police mentioned 53-year-old Alan Atencio was arrested a couple of minutes later, for DUI and failure to stay on scene of an accident.
“It was such a shock,” Hitt mentioned. “And it simply scared me, as a result of my cousin, 11 years in the past, July 5, she was hit and killed by a drunk driver.”
Hitt and her husband are each veterans, and mentioned it’s disappointing to see folks appearing recklessly on a weekend meaning a lot to them.
“Each veteran that I do know, we don’t say comfortable Memorial Day, as a result of my husband and I had been within the first Gulf Warfare, and we misplaced folks,” she mentioned.
Hitt’s husband was not severely injured within the crash, however they’re ready on insurance coverage adjusters to determine if his Dodge Dakota is totaled.
Throughout Colorado, greater than 80 regulation enforcement companies have teamed as much as crack down on impaired driving this weekend.
“We’re going to make our presence recognized, as a result of we need to cease these behaviors, earlier than they harm any person,” Sgt. Blake White with Colorado State Patrol mentioned. “It’s not solely your life, it’s the fines you could face. It’s a heck of quite a bit cheaper to pay for a trip share, than the potential of a DUI.”
