Police recover stolen vehicle reportedly used in attempt to hit children at Pueblo park
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - A video shared with KRDO13 appears to show a car driving towards several children at a park in Pueblo on Sunday afternoon. Now, the Pueblo Police Department (PPD) says that they have recovered the suspected vehicle and three juveniles inside.
A car attempts to hit juveniles on Sunday
PPD says they were called out to the area of Briarwood Park on Sunday around 4:33 p.m.
"Upon arrival, officers learned a light-colored sedan was parked on the south end of the park and then drove through the park attempting to hit a group of juveniles," PPD wrote in a press release. "The vehicle drove recklessly, nearly hitting several juveniles. The juveniles ran to escape the vehicle."
KRDO13 spoke with one of the parents of two of the children seen running away from the car in the video. They say their kids are doing okay on Monday, but were shaken after the incident.
A parent says the car sped down the street and stopped at the park. They told KRDO13 the driver and passengers of the car were yelling racial slurs and expletives at the group of kids aged 9 to 15.
They say some of the kids at the park yelled back, and the parent says the car drove at the children at the park. The mother tells us she is grateful the kids were able to hide behind a parked car nearby, but wants to find the people responsible.
KRDO13 spoke with a neighbor whom the children at the park ran to after the car drove at them.
"What's the matter, guys? What's wrong? What's going on? And that's when they started. I mean, you could see, you know, like their voice. I could hear it in their voice. They were scared, so scared. 'The car was trying to run us over," recounted Doris Duran.
She said she felt for the kids and tried to help calm them down with her husband after the incident.
"I hope they do catch this person, persons, whatever. I hope they do because these kids deserve to come over here. And now they can't come because they're scared. That's crazy, that's crazy," shared Duran.
Suspect vehicle spotted and recovered
On Monday, the PPD says officers observed a car matching the description of one used in Sunday's incident. It was reportedly stolen, police say.
According to police, the juvenile driver of the stolen car tried to evade officers when it hit multiple other vehicles on Northern Avenue. Police say they are still working to identify if those in the vehicle were in the car during Sunday's incident.
PPD says that three juveniles were in the car and taken to the hospital. The department told KRDO13 on Tuesday that two bystanders reported injuries in the incident.
Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.
