Teen Seriously Injured By Driver Accused Of Eluding Police
By Andrea Flores
THORNTON, Colo. (CBS4)- Alyssa Sanchez's family says it was a typical night out for the teen when an accused wrong-way driver, evading Thornton Police, almost cut her life short.
Avel Sanchez woke up to a call late Tuesday night to learn his 17-year-old daughter, Alyssa, was hit head-on by a suspected drunk driver in Thornton.
"I rushed to the scene and saw the car, and it was demolished with firefighters all around it, as Flight for Life was landing," said Sanchez.
Alyssa was driving her cousin and two friends to play miniature golf when Frederick Veloz, 32, on the run from police, allegedly drove into oncoming traffic and slammed into Alyssa's car near 126th and North Washington.
Alyssa remains in critical condition.
"She has a skull fracture, a broken jaw, a broken femur, and a compound fracture in her arm," Sanchez said.
A GoFundMe page for Alyssa Sanchez has raised close to $6,000. Her parents say support from the community is overwhelming.
"She's going to fight even harder once she gets through this to hit everything she's ever wanted and dreamed about," Sanchez said.
While Alyssa's road to recovery has only just begun, her father hopes drunk drivers with think twice before getting behind the wheel.
"Don't do it, just don't do it," said Sanchez. "You don't know what you're going do to another family."
Two teens were treated and released after the accident, but Jared Trujillo remains in serious condition. A GoFundMe page has also been set up for him.
Andrea Flores is a reporter for CBS4. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @AndreaFloresTV.