23-year-old arrested for hit-and-run crash that killed cyclist Sunday in Boulder County

DENVER (KDVR) — A 23-year-old man is now behind bars and facing charges for a deadly hit-and-run crash that prosecutors allege he committed on Sunday.

Dante Johnson was arrested Monday at about 9 a.m. by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, which arrested the man on an unrelated warrant. He is alleged to have been the driver of a blue Toyota Highlander that hit and killed a bicyclist at the intersection of 95th Street and Avocet Lane at about noon on Sunday.

The cyclist was transported to a local hospital after the crash, where he was pronounced dead. He has not yet been identified.

The Colorado State Patrol said the Highlander fled the scene of the crash, and later on Sunday, the vehicle was found abandoned in Clement Park in Littleton.

On Wednesday, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Johnson. He now faces charges of failing to remain the scene/give information, failing to provide aid after an accident involving death, and failure to notify police of a road accident.

“Throughout Colorado, there are far too many cyclists and pedestrians who are tragically injured or killed every year.” said District Attorney Michael Dougherty in the announcement of the charges. “These cases are a priority in this jurisdiction. So, I deeply appreciate the rapid response and thorough investigation by the members of the Colorado State Patrol. Also, the Colorado State Patrol immediately notified our DA Vehicular Response Team, which is very helpful. Today’s arrest is a direct result of the immediate actions taken by the Colorado State Patrol and other law enforcement partners in response to this heartbreaking loss of life. As the criminal prosecution now moves forward, our office is committed to fighting for justice for the victim and his family.”

The Colorado State Patrol, which is investigating the crash, said that the hit-and-run resulting in the death of the victim charge is a Class 3 Felony, punishable by between 4 and 12 years in prison and fines between $3,000 and $750,000.

CSP said that additional charges will be filed for Johnson’s conduct and actions that led to the victim’s death. He is currently being held at the Arapahoe County Jail, and according to court records, he faces a $100,000 cash or surety bond.

Johnson is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday morning.