Witnesses take action after hit and run crash

Witnesses took action after a driver tried to flee the scene of an alleged drunk driving crash.

It happened Sunday afternoon on 21st and Cimarron Streets.

“He hit the rear of the car, and it totally threw me in a circle,” said Patti Lee, one of two drivers who was hit. “Then he bounced against the other couple(‘s car) after hitting me.”

She said what was worse, the driver never stopped. Two other drivers followed the driver’s black Audi as it made it’s way north on 21st Street.

Edwin Bynum said the Audi was swerving and hitting curbs. He said the car crashed into the curb at 21st and Platte Avenue, hitting a tree and knocking down a traffic sign.

“Then he backed up and tried to get away,” said Bynam. “My son-in-law went over and grabbed in the car and wouldn’t let him go.”

When police arrived, the man behind the wheel of the Audi was put in a neck brace and on a stretcher. Police later said he wasn’t hurt in the accident. The man, who has not been identified, was arrested on suspicion of DUI, hit-and-run and other charges.

“He couldn’t even walk,” said Bynum. “So it’s a shame people are driving on the street like that. He could’ve hit anybody.”

Lee said she was grateful for how Bynum and his family responded, as well as for help from firefighters and passers-by who asked if she was OK.

“Bless ’em,” said Lee. “We’ve just been through a lot this year in Colorado Springs. It’s really nice to know our community can come together and wants to help.”

Just this summer, Colorado upped penalties for hit-and-run drivers. Now, if a person leaves the scene of a crash where there are serious injuries, they could spend up to six years behind bars. Before that law was passed, penalties were less severe for leaving the scene of an accident than staying, if the driver was drunk.