Early Monday in downtown Denver, a late-night walk near 20th and Larimer streets turned into a terrifying scene when a vehicle pulled into a crosswalk and struck three pedestrians. One person was dragged roughly a half block under the car before being freed, after witnesses and officers reportedly lifted the vehicle to pull the victim out. The crash happened around 2:30 a.m., and the block was shut down while investigators worked the scene.
Driver identified, scene described
According to 9NEWS, Denver police identified the driver as 56-year-old Cesario Serrato and said his license had been revoked. A probable cause statement says Serrato exited a parking lot at 2000 Larimer Street and hit three people who were in a marked crosswalk. One of the victims was dragged about a half block under the car before officers and bystanders lifted the passenger side to free them. The statement says Serrato appeared intoxicated, describing "bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and smell of alcohol," and notes that he was taken to a hospital to be medically cleared before being booked into jail.
Downtown pedestrian safety context
Crashes like this highlight a broader safety problem in Denver and across Colorado. Denverite has reported that the city's Vision Zero program has struggled to reduce traffic deaths and that fatal crashes have recently climbed to levels not seen in decades. State data cited by CBS Colorado shows a sharp rise in pedestrian fatalities in recent years, a trend advocates say underscores the need for more street redesign and stronger enforcement.
Court records and next steps
Court records cited by 9NEWS show Serrato pleaded guilty in January 2021 to a lesser charge of driving while impaired and was sentenced to 12 months of probation. It was not immediately clear what charges prosecutors might file in connection with Monday's downtown crash, as investigators review the probable cause statement and evidence from the scene.
