GREELEY, Colo. — A woman faces a felony charge in connection with a 2023 hit-and-run crash that killed a bicyclist in Greeley, the 19th Judicial District Attorney's Office said on Thursday.
Ana Romero, 24, of Gilcrest, is charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death. A grand jury indicted Romero last week, the DA's office said in a news release.
Michael Wallen was killed in the crash, which happened just after midnight Dec. 4 on 8th Avenue near the intersection with 24th Street. Wallen was riding his bike across the street when he was hit by a car. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. Prosecutors said the driver did not stop.
Prosecutors said investigators found debris from the vehicle at the scene, as well as surveillance video that showed the driver did not slow down or stop after the crash.
Later that evening, prosecutors said, an attorney representing Romero called police and reported that his client's vehicle was involved in a crash.
Prosecutors said Romero called a friend "within minutes of the crash." The friend initially declined to talk to police but later testified that she spoke to Romero several times after the crash, prosecutors said.
Romero told the friend she had hit something or someone and later saw a news story about the crash and knew that someone had died, the friend testified. Romero told the friend she was going to turn herself in that day, but that didn't happen, prosecutors said.
Romero was arrested Wednesday. She was set to appear in court Thursday afternoon.
