A Denver judge has sentenced a driver to five years in prison for fleeing the scene of a deadly hit-and-run in northeast Denver, a case that started when a vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian near East 36th Avenue and North Quebec Street last summer. The victim was later identified as a 59-year-old man.
Five-Year Sentence Logged In Court Docket
Court scheduling and docket information list a sentencing hearing for the defendant on April 6 in Denver District Court, according to the Colorado Judicial Branch. Local coverage reports that the driver, identified as Calistro Ortega-Uribe, pleaded guilty in February to one count of attempting to leave the scene of an accident involving death and received a five-year prison term. 9News reviewed the court filings and summarized the sentencing hearing.
Fatal Night On Quebec Street
The collision happened on the night of Aug. 16, 2025, in the 3600 block of North Quebec Street. The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner lists the case and identifies the victim as Nicholas Teegarden, born May 15, 1966. The office recorded blunt-force injuries as the cause of death and classified the manner of death as an accident.
According to Denver police, the driver took off after the crash and did not return to the scene. Officers arrested a suspect the following day as part of the initial investigation. CBS Colorado reported on the arrest and early details released by investigators.
Traffic Cameras, Damaged Car Lead Investigators To Suspect
Authorities said traffic cameras captured the vehicle’s license plate, which led investigators to an address in Commerce City. There, officers located a car with damage consistent with the hit-and-run, according to local reporting. Coverage of the case notes that officers also detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the driver and sought a warrant for a blood draw.
Booking records cited in that reporting indicate that, during processing, investigators recovered a small folded bill containing suspected white powder. The Denver Gazette detailed those investigative steps following the Aug. 17 arrest.
Plea Deal Scales Back Original Charges
Prosecutors initially filed more serious counts, including vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death. The case ultimately wrapped up when Ortega-Uribe pleaded guilty in February to a single reduced charge of attempting to leave the scene of an accident involving death, according to local reporting.
9News reports that the plea and the resulting five-year prison sentence. The court docket lists the April 6 sentencing hearing, and court records show it took place in Denver District Court.
Colorado’s Duty-To-Stop Law Looms Large
Under Colorado law, drivers involved in crashes that cause injury or death are required to stop, stay at the scene and provide aid when appropriate. State traffic statutes make leaving the scene of a collision that results in serious injury or death a serious felony offense, with penalties that depend on the exact charge and any plea agreement.
The Colorado Revised Statutes section 42-4-1601 outlines the duty to stop and the potential criminal exposure for drivers who do not.
With the plea entered and sentence imposed, Ortega-Uribe is now set to serve a five-year term on the reduced count, according to the court calendar and local reports. The outcome closes a chapter on a fatal August crash that quickly drew the attention of Denver police and the city medical examiner.
