WESTMINSTER, Colo. — The driver accused of hitting and killing a man with his pickup truck after an altercation Saturday night has been arrested, according to the Westminster Police Department.
Police said the hit-and-run happened just after 10 p.m. in the area of Alcott and Zuni streets. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he died.
August Romero, 40, was arrested late Sunday night on a charge of first-degree murder, according to Westminster Police. Records show he has previous convictions and served time in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Yvette Valanzuela identified the victim as her husband, 52-year-old Robby Valanzuela.
“I found my husband just lying there lifeless,” Yvette Valanzuela said. “He didn’t even have a shirt on anymore. His pants were just shattered and shredded like this guy just ran over him. I hugged him, and I held him, and I said, ‘Baby please come back. Please come back.’”
The person who hit Robby Valanzuela left the scene before officers arrived, police said. The initial investigation revealed the victim and suspect were involved in a disturbance before the suspect intentionally hit the victim with his truck, according to police.
“Hit my husband and drug him halfway down the block, just left him lifeless, and took off,” Yvette Valanzuela said. “How do you live with yourself like that? How? Do you not have a heart? Robby was a great man. He had a heart of gold. All day [Saturday] he said, ‘Life is too short. You gotta enjoy it, right? You gotta enjoy it.’”
Yvette Valanzuela told 9NEWS that her husband has three daughters and seven grandchildren. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses.
Westminster Police initially said they were looking for two vehicles: the truck the suspect was driving and a car they believe is associated with the suspect. They're no longer looking for that second vehicle.
The truck is a black four-door Dodge Ram with chrome wheels. It has a pole sticking up from the truck bed and a truck bed work box. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said the truck has license plate number EEI A89.
At the time of the crash, the pickup had a large circular sticker on the driver's back window, but that sticker has since been removed, police said.
Police have identified the registered owner of the black truck, but are still looking for the truck.
Westminster Police ask anyone with information that may help the investigation to call them at 303-658-4360, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 720-913-7867.
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