AURORA | Police said a 24-year-old Denver man may have been under the influence of narcotics last night when he careened his van across streets in north-central Aurora, leading police on a chase and eventually causing a multi-car crash that injured four people, including two pregnant women.
Motorists called 911 at about 6 p.m. to report that the driver of white delivery van was recklessly speeding in the area of East Sixth Avenue and Potomac Street.
Using the police department’s networks of outdoor cameras, police “observed the suspect driving on sidewalks, into oncoming traffic, and running red lights,” Aurora police spokesperson Katie Fisher said in a statement. ”Officers attempted to stop the delivery van but the driver fled, continued driving erratically, and ran multiple red lights.”
Patrol officers called off a chase when the driver refused to pull over, Fisher said.
At one point, the driver sped into the intersection of East Sixth Avenue and Potomac Street, nearly hit a pedestrian and then caused a multiple-car crash.”
“The driver, identified as 34-year-old Denver resident Chad Gow, was taken into custody after resisting officers on scene,” Fisher said. “A preliminary investigation revealed that Gow was possibly driving under the influence of narcotics.”
Police said a pregnant woman inside one of the cars involved in the crash was seriously injured. Also injured were three other people, including another pregnant woman.
Gow faces charges of vehicular assault and eluding police, Fisher said.