1 dead, 7 injured in hit-and-run crash after altercation in Jefferson County bar parking lot

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — Deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men after a fatal hit-and-crash sparked by an altercation at a bar parking lot that also injured seven others early Sunday morning.

One man was killed and four others were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Three people sustained minor injuries, the sheriff’s office said.

The two suspects — alleged driver, Ruben Marquez, 29, and vehicle owner and alleged passenger, Ernesto DeJesus Avila, 25 — are now facing murder and accessory charges.

The incident started as an altercation between two groups of people at Rock Rest Lodge, located at 16005 Mt. Vernon Roa, around 1:45 a.m., according to the sheriff’s office.

"Leading up to the crash there was an altercation outside the lodge. Employees and witnesses state that it may be gang related," Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jenny Fulton said.

Following the verbal altercation, the driver of a Chevy pick-up truck, with two passengers inside, allegedly backed out of a parking spot and ran over and through a crowd, including restaurant staff, standing in the parking lot and took off, Fulton said.

Fulton said deputies arrived to a chaotic scene with about 50 people gathered outside the bar, some laying on the pavement injured from the crash. The person who died, who has not been identified, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Responding deputies, with assistance from Colorado State Patrol, located the truck at W. 10th Avenue and Mt. Vernon Road and arrested the driver and two passengers shortly after the incident. One of the passengers was later released without being charged.

Denver7 spoke with Angelena Pena, who identified the victim who died after the hit and run crash as 26-year-old Adrian Ponce, her brother-in-law.

“He had a heart of gold. He was a provider, he was the main provider for his family," Pena said over the phone. “He was so outgoing, loving, caring, willing to do whatever he could for anybody. I'm just still shocked.”

Pena said her sister, Ashlie, has two young children with Ponce and that he was an amazing father.

“My sister called me around four o'clock in the morning and said, 'Angelena, I have a gut feeling something's wrong. He's not home. He should have been home. He told me he would be home at 1. I can't get ahold of him,'" Pena said. “7:30 in the morning, she calls me screaming and crying, telling me that he was gone.”

Pena said she believes Ponce was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and does not think the altercation directly involved him. She said her sister is devastated and heartbroken, but is working to maintain herself for her kids.

“My nephew says, 'Where's daddy?' And then he tells me, 'My daddy's gone, my daddy died.' And you know, he's only 3. I don’t think he truly understands that, you know?" Pena said.

The alleged driver of the truck, Marquez, is facing charges of first-degree murder, three counts of first-degree assault, and three counts of second-degree assault.

According to records pulled by Denver7, Marquez has a lengthy criminal history in Colorado including weapon and drug violations, vehicle theft and escape attempt charges. At the time of the crash, he was on parole for his 2019 conviction on drug possession for distribution and weapons possession by a prior offender.

Avila is facing charges of accessory to first-degree murder, three counts of accessory to first-degree assault, and three counts of accessory to second-degree assault, according to the sheriff's office.

What led up to the altercation is unknown. Fulton said the two groups were reportedly exchanging "gang unpleasantries" toward each other and were separated by bar staff before the crash. An investigation is ongoing.

Rock Rest Lodge, advertised as having a Wild West theme, announced on social media that it will stay closed Sunday.

The sheriff’s office said no further information will be released Sunday.