Adams County Chase Suspect Faces Slew Of Charges
DENVER (CBS4) - Investigators say a 32-year-old woman led Adams County deputies in a wild high speed chase that ended at 73nd and Sheridan on Sunday.
Authorities said the incident started near 64th and Washington when the driver police say was Audra Abeyta was stopped for allegedly suspicious activity.
When deputies asked her to get out of her car she put it in gear and took off, striking two Adams County deputies who were out of their cars.
"She did not want to exit the car, in fact she put it into gear and drove away, and in doing so struck two of our deputies," Adams County Sheriff's Sgt. Paul Gregory said.
Gregory said at that point getting the driver off the road became a top priority.
"Striking two deputies with a vehicle is pretty severe, and that's why we decided to give chase to her," Gregory said.
A few miles away the crash that ended the chase took place. The driver police allegedly ran a red light and crashed into a tan sedan, sending that driver to the hospital with serious injuries.
Abeyta was arrested there after police rammed her vehicle in order to get her to stop fleeing. She is now facing charges that include assault, careless driving and drug charges.
The two deputies that were hit had minor injuries and are going to be okay.
Gino Ruibal and his wife Kathy were on Sheridan coming home from lunch when they got caught in the middle of the chase.
"I looked in the rear view mirror and I see this white vehicle coming really fast," Gino said. "We knew that (she) wasn't going to stop. It was a chase going on."
They were able to avoid getting hit, but Kathy said they knew the situation wouldn't end well.
"(The driver) was in and out of traffic, fishtailing down the middle of the road," she said.
A man who has not been identified was in the vehicle with Abeyta.