AURORA | A 73-year-old man has been sentenced to five years in prison for a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian and his dog earlier this year in Aurora, according to prosecutors.
Michael Graham-Hyde was sentenced this week after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of a crash involving death and careless driving resulting in death, 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Eric Ross said in a statement. Graham-Hyde must also serve five years of parole following his prison term and has been ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution.
The crash happened at about 7:30 p.m. on April 3 at East Wesley Drive and East Caspian Circle. Investigators said Graham-Hyde was driving his SUV west “at a high rate of speed” when he lost control and struck 65-year-old Alberto Buitrago and his dog, Nova, on the sidewalk.
The dog died at the scene, and Buitrago later died at a hospital.
Buitrago’s wife told investigators her husband had taken the couple’s 2-year-old goldendoodle out for a short walk before the crash.
Prosecutors said Graham-Hyde fled the scene of the crash but turned himself in several hours later at Aurora police headquarters. He told investigators that he panicked and later learned through social media that Buitrago had died.
“Leaving the scene of a crash is inexcusable,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Jacob Kremin said in a statement. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of his actions and the devastation left behind for the Buitrago family.”
Deputy District Attorney Debra Luna said fleeing the crash “only deepened the harm and pain for his family.”
So sorry that Alberto and Nova were killed.
Why was Michael Graham-Hyde speeding through theighborhood?
Did not expecthere to be people on the sidewalk walking their dogs?