A Friday morning crash on Aurora's north side ended with a 13-year-old in custody after police say a car plowed into a home and badly hurt a woman inside.
Officers were called just before 9 a.m. to the 1100 block of N. Jamaica, where investigators say the vehicle smashed into the house and struck an adult woman. She suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital. Another adult inside the home was not hurt, and police say they found and detained the juvenile driver shortly after the crash.
Aurora police say the 13-year-old faces allegations that include hit and run resulting in serious bodily injury and careless driving resulting in bodily injury. The suspect's name has not been released, according to CBS Colorado. The outlet’s report shows photos of the damaged house and a warning sign posted outside, and investigators told the station they are still working to determine what led up to the crash.
Teen Driving Rules and Privacy
Colorado’s graduated licensing system does not allow drivers to obtain a learner’s permit until about age 15, so a 13-year-old would not legally hold a permit, according to the Colorado DMV.
Police have not released the juvenile’s identity. In Colorado, juvenile records and many delinquency proceedings are generally shielded from public disclosure, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press notes. That confidentiality means names and court records are often withheld while investigations proceed and any juvenile court actions play out.
Legal Implications
Under Colorado law, drivers involved in crashes that injure others must stop and render aid. Leaving the scene when someone suffers serious bodily injury can be prosecuted as a felony under C.R.S. § 42-4-1601, as outlined by FindLaw. Careless driving that causes bodily injury is a separate offense that can be charged as a class 1 misdemeanor under C.R.S. § 42-4-1402, according to FindLaw. How those statutes are ultimately applied in a juvenile case depends on what investigators conclude and how prosecutors choose to proceed.
Aurora police say the investigation is ongoing and, per CBS Colorado, have asked anyone with information about the crash to contact investigators. This story will be updated as the department releases more details and as any court actions become public.
