Weeks after a deadly February collision in Commerce City, prosecutors have filed felony charges against a 56-year-old driver accused of striking a 79-year-old pedestrian while allegedly nearly three times over Colorado’s legal blood-alcohol limit.
The crash happened Feb. 9 at East 64th Avenue and Monaco Street in Commerce City. The driver, identified as Vicente Zuniga-Castillo, stayed at the scene and cooperated with officers, according to investigators. The pedestrian was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died from injuries sustained in the collision, officials said.
As reported by KDVR, Zuniga-Castillo now faces charges including vehicular homicide and driving under the influence. Police first disclosed the crash on the department’s Facebook page and said the traffic unit processed the scene in the 6300 block of Monaco Street.
Charges follow weeks of investigation
According to prosecutors, the case moved forward after investigators reviewed breath-test results and physical evidence from the scene. In a Facebook post quoted by KDVR, the Commerce City Police Department said: “The driver should be held accountable.” Officials noted that the department’s Traffic Team handled the on-scene work while detectives completed their follow-up review.
Where this crash fits into a larger trend
Colorado has seen elevated pedestrian fatalities in recent years, with reports that reviewed state Department of Transportation figures putting pedestrian deaths at roughly 120 in 2024, according to The Colorado Sun. That increase has prompted renewed local efforts, including Vision Zero projects and targeted enforcement, focused on improving crosswalks, lighting and crackdowns on impaired driving. Safety advocates say crashes involving older pedestrians and suspected impairment highlight the need for both better engineering and tougher enforcement on busy arterial streets.
Legal stakes and next steps
Under Colorado law, vehicular homicide charges apply when impairment or reckless driving is the proximate cause of another person’s death; the offense is codified in state statute C.R.S. § 18-3-106. A conviction can bring felony penalties and prison time. In this case, prosecutors are expected to rely on the breath-test results and other evidence as the matter moves through the Adams County court system. Court dates had not yet been posted as of this week.
Commerce City police have asked anyone with information about the Feb. 9 crash to contact the department. This story will be updated as additional records and court filings become available.
