What started as a routine hit-and-run call in Westminster on Sunday quickly turned into a far more chaotic scene, police said, after officers on the ground suddenly heard gunfire nearby. The crash initially brought officers to the 72nd Avenue area near Sheridan Boulevard, but the situation escalated when they discovered a separate vehicle that had rolled off the road into a field. Two people were ejected from that vehicle and rushed to local hospitals with serious injuries, and a firearm was later recovered as officers worked the scene. The hit-and-run vehicle itself was eventually found abandoned just a few blocks away, according to authorities.
Scene and Initial Response
According to Fox31 Denver, officers were first dispatched to a reported hit-and-run near 72nd Avenue and Wolff Street. The vehicle involved in that crash was later located unoccupied at 69th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. While crews were still processing the scene, officers heard shots fired in the area, bringing in additional officers and medical teams as they moved to secure the neighborhood around the crashes.
Injuries and Evidence Recovered
The Westminster Police Department reported that multiple people had been inside the rolled vehicle. Two male occupants were thrown from the vehicle and taken to area hospitals with serious injuries. A third person ran from the crash but was later contacted and treated by medical personnel. Officers also found a gun inside the rolled vehicle, the department said, though investigators have not yet determined whether the firearm was actually fired.
Investigation Underway
Investigators told Fox31 Denver that the rollover crash appears to be a separate incident from the original hit-and-run. They are looking at alcohol as a possible factor in the rollover. The driver of the hit-and-run has not been identified, and detectives are still working to piece together the full timeline of events. Anyone with information is urged to contact Westminster police.
