An Adams County man has been arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder after a fatal hit-and-run crash in Thornton, police announced Wednesday.
Matthew Lopez, a 34-year-old man from Adams County, was arrested for investigation of homicide and booked into Adams County Detention Facility around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Wednesday news release from the Thornton Police Department and jail records.
Officer Jesus Mendez, a spokesperson for the Thornton Police Department, said the department plans to recommend charges of first-degree murder to the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
“It’s a collaborative effort between the DA and the police department, so more charges could be coming or charges could be changed,” Mendez said.
Tuesday morning, an unidentified man was killed in Thornton after he was intentionally hit by the driver of an SUV on the 84th Avenue bridge over Interstate 25, police said.
The man was struck by a red and tan Ford Explorer with Colorado license plate CQJ-N56 that fled the scene.
Police said the crash appeared intentional and were able to track down the SUV on Tuesday, which led to Lopez’s arrest, the news release stated.
The Adams County Coroner’s Office will identify the victim at a later date.
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