Pedestrian Dies After Being Struck By Aurora Police Vehicle

AURORA, CO —A pedestrian, whom investigators believe was lying down in the street, died Monday night after being struck by an Aurora Police Department vehicle driven by an on-duty APD officer, the APD announced early Tuesday morning.

The Colorado State Patrol said it has been asked to investigate the fatal crash in Aurora, which it said resulted in the death of a 37-year-old man from Salt Lake City. The state patrol said it did not release the name of the deceased because his next of kin still were being identified and notified.

According to the state patrol, at about 11:25 p.m., an on-duty Aurora Police Department officer driving a fully-marked 2018 Ford Police SUV eastbound on E. Quincy Avenue — at South Nucla Street — reported that he hit a pedestrian.

The 37-year-old male officer —whose name has not yet been provided by the APD — called for medical assistance for the pedestrian. The officer was not responding to a call for service at the time, authorities said.

"(The pedestrian was) tragically pronounced deceased on scene," the APD said in a statement.

The state patrol said an on-scene investigation determined the pedestrian was dressed in dark clothes and was lying down in the eastbound lanes of E. Quincy Avenue prior to being run over by the Police SUV.

"The pedestrian had earlier been observed to be highly intoxicated in a nearby store prior to the crash," the state patrol said in a statement.

According to authorities, the APD vehicle has been taken for inspection and the case remains under investigation by the Colorado State Patrol. No charges have been filed.