A 20-year-old man who pleaded guilty in a hit-and-run crash in Commerce City that killed a teenager and injured three others was sentenced to seven years in prison, according to the 17th Judicial District.
Emiliano Malpica, 18, was killed on Oct. 6, 2024, when the driver of a black Audi A4 ran a stop sign at Holly Street and East 58th Avenue during a street race, hitting a black Volkswagen carrying the teen and his family. Malpica’s parents and another teenage relative who were in the car had injuries that ranged from serious to life-threatening, according to police.
The Audi driver, 20-year-old Erik Hernandez-Escobar, fled the scene and later falsely reported his car was stolen, according to the district attorney’s office. Phone data, vehicle crash notifications and one of the passengers in the Audi confirmed he was in the area and driving the car when it crashed.
Hernandez-Escobar pleaded guilty in May to leaving the scene of an accident involving death and vehicular homicide, both felonies.
“This was an unspeakable tragedy caused by the thoughtless actions of this defendant,” District Attorney Brian Mason said in a statement Friday. “My heart breaks for the victims and their families whose lives are now forever changed.”
Two other people are charged in the case – Elian Marte Agramonte, who is accused of driving another vehicle involved in the street race with the Audi, is charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, while Raquel Lujan Flores is charged with three counts of being an accessory to a crime. All of the charges are felonies.
Flores is set to appear in court Oct. 1, and Agramonte is set to appear in court Oct. 22 for arraignment hearings.
Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.