Driver sentenced to 18 years after deadly hit-and-run in Lone Tree

DENVER (KDVR) — The man charged in a deadly Lone Tree hit-and-run in 2022 received a maximum sentence of 18 years after failing to appear in court.

On Tuesday, David Lucero, 40, was sentenced to six years for vehicular homicide and 12 years for leaving the scene of an accident involving death. The sentences will run consecutively.

Man runs red light, kills woman

On the morning of Oct. 23, 2022, bystanders saw a Ram pickup truck run a red light and crash into the driver’s side of a sedan near Lincoln Avenue and Park Meadows Drive.

When Lone Tree police officers arrived on the scene, they found a woman trapped inside her sedan.

The woman was transferred to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Lucero left the scene before he could be questioned, but police were able to track him down from his license plate tags. Lucero initially told police his car was missing, then admitted to the crash after further questioning.

Lucero was charged and pleaded guilty to the following offenses:

• Leaving the scene of an accident involving death
• Vehicular homicide-reckless driving

His sentencing was scheduled for April 2, 2024, but Lucero never showed up in court. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was arrested two days later.

“Instead of calling for help or remaining on-scene until emergency personnel arrived, this defendant made the cowardly decision to run,” Deputy District Attorney Keegan Doheney said. “He not only decided to flee that morning, but he also decided not to face justice on the day he was set to be sentenced.”

Lucero will now serve the maximum sentence in prison.