GOLDEN, Colo. — Two suspects were arrested after one person was killed and six others were injured in a hit-and-run crash in the parking lot of a Golden bar early Sunday morning, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies responded to a call at 1:43 a.m. of a hit-and-run crash in the parking lot of Rock Rest Lodge, a bar near South Golden Road and Mount Vernon Road.
When deputies arrived, they found six victims suffering from various injuries. A seventh person was in a parked cars that was hit but that person wasn't injured, the Sheriff's Office said.
Witnesses told investigators that an altercation occurred outside of the bar and was broken up by Rock Rest Lodge employees prior to the hit-and-run.
Investigators said the driver of a white Chevy Silverado intentionally plowed through a group of about 50 people, then fled the scene.
"It was an intentional act and unfortunately, we do have one fatality and several injuries," sheriff's office spokesperson Jenny Fulton said.
One person died at the scene. Four victims were taken to the hospital with severe injuries, and others had minor injuries.
"We do believe at least one employee of Rock Rest Lodge was injured in the hit and run," she said. "So I know at least one individual was not involved. I don’t know how many others may not have been involved either."
9NEWS asked the sheriff's office if the two groups knew each other prior to the fight. They said that was something they were looking into and would be part of the investigation.
Across the street from the scene, employees at JC's Café showed up for work to a flood of police lights. Shannon Rucker told 9NEWS her mother owned the restaurant, and she worried she may know some who were injured.
"I heard a fight broke out and then they went out and ran them over. That’s all I heard. So it’s awful," Rucker said. "I just hope it’s not anybody that comes in that we know, because we’re a very close-knit community."
Law enforcement spotted the Silverado in the area and apprehended the suspects a short time after the crash.
The suspected driver, 29-year-old Ruben Marquez, was arrested on murder and assault charges.
Marquez has a long criminal history dating back more than a decade. His record starts in 2011, and includes a conviction of illegally possessing a weapon and vehicle theft.
The Jefferson County jail inmate log shows Marquez is also behind bars on charges of violating parole and violating a protection order.
A passenger in the Silverado, 25-year-old Ernesto Avila, was arrested on charges of accessory to murder and accessory to assault. The sheriff's office said Avila is the registered owner of the Silverado.
Avila and Marquez are both due in court Monday.
The sheriff's office said a third person in the Silverado was initially taken into custody, but that person is not facing any charges.
Editor's Note: Investigators previously reported a different number of victims in this incident. This story has been updated to reflect the corrected number of people injured.
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