A 23-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an investigation of vehicular homicide in the death Wednesday night of Denver Post reporter Colleen O’Connor.
Jesus Carreno is also under investigation for drunken driving, Denver police said Thursday. He is being held without bond at the Denver city jail. He was advised of the charges against him Thursday morning.
O’Connor, 60, a skilled journalist committed to telling stories from all corners of the community, was killed in the Wednesday night collision. O’Connor was known for her delicate touch with sensitive stories. Her body of work ranged from ghost bike memorials to riders killed on the road to stories about Syrians in Colorado who watched the refugee crisis with fear and hope.
“She was an amazing, compassionate, kind, curious and loving person and I will miss her so much,” said Dana Coffield, Post business editor.
Denver police are working to determine what happened when O’Connor was struck. Police said Thursday there was no bicycle involved in the crash despite earlier reports that said O’Connor was either riding a bicycle or walking a bicycle across a crosswalk when she was struck and killed at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of East First Avenue and South Downing Street.
The Denver coroner’s office determined Thursday that O’Connor died of multiple blunt force injuries in the crash, which was ruled an accident.
Police said the driver was eastbound on Speer Boulevard and O’Connor was in the crosswalk at Downing when she was hit. Speer turns into East First Avenue at Downing.
Carreno pulled over after the collision and called 911 to report that he was involved in a crash, police said. A photo of the vehicle from KUSA-Channel 9 appeared to show the car had traveled half a mile from the crash scene on East First Avenue. Police said Carreno traveled about eight blocks before stopping. The crash will not be investigated as a hit and run.
Dianna Dunbar, who lives near the crossing, drove up and saw a crowd of people gathered in the middle of the street a few minutes after the crash.
“It was horrible. I literally screamed. I thought, ‘Oh God, there has been another accident.’ There had been another accident two weeks ago,” she said.
Dunbar said the intersection is dangerous because it’s unclear who has the right of way — pedestrians or motorists.
“There are people coming from so many different directions. I think there needs to be a way to slow people down. I think it is super confusing and dangerous,” Dunbar said.
During a Thursday morning news conference, Traffic Sgt. Michael Farr said the driver had a green light and the pedestrian was walking in the crosswalk against the signal. The driver showed signs of intoxication, but blood alcohol tests can take weeks to process.
Farr said that drivers involved in traffic accidents are required to remain on the scene in part to render aid to anyone injured by the crash and also to call for emergency services. He said if the district attorney’s office wishes to consider hit and run charges that would be up to prosecutors.
As far as the Denver police are concerned Carreno met the criteria of the law.
Friends and colleagues left bouquets of flowers on O’Connor’s desk Thursday.
“She was the nicest person in the newsroom,” said reporter Noelle Phillips.
“I cannot imagine a kinder or more thoughtful colleague,” reporter John Ingold said. “This is devastating.”
I cannot imagine a kinder or more thoughtful colleague. This is devastating. https://t.co/TNVmm4XcPo
— John Ingold ☀️ (@johningold) September 1, 2016
O’Connor joined the Denver Post in July 2004. She was a reporter for The Denver Post’s Now Team. She previously worked as a features reporter and then on the anchor team, where she tackled major enterprise reporting. She also worked as a general assignment reporter and later as food writer. She wrote for a blog called “The Den,” about all things Denver, and was a passionate reader who contributed book reviews to the paper.
Friends and colleagues mourned her passing Thursday.
“She was quick with a compliment and quick with a hug or pat on the back or thoughtful word,” Denver Post editor Lee Ann Colacioppo said in a message to newspaper employees Thursday. “She picked up my spirits more often than I could count. We are a poorer place without her and I offer my deepest condolences to those of you who knew her best.”
Former colleague and close friend Ellen Sweets shared a similar sentiment on O’Connor’s Facebook page.
“My heart is broken: Colleen O’Connor, a friend and outstanding reporter for The Denver Post and The Dallas Morning News, died last night as the result of injuries sustained after being hit by a car in Denver. She was one of the brightest, kindest and most sensitive people I’ve ever known,” Sweets wrote.
Marjorie Allison, a close friend of O’Connor’s, said they often went on what they called “walk and talks” around Washington Park, talking about a new book she read, politics or movies.
“It was really invigorating to the mind. She thought that books were delicious,” Allison said. “She was very curious about life. Very open. She was always out for trying new things.”
