Mother, two kids die in hit and run
Published 9:00 pm Sunday, November 12, 2006
DENVER – A man was charged Sunday with killing a mother and two children in a stroller by driving drunk through a red light and striking the family in a crosswalk and then leaving the scene.
Lawrence Trujillo was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bail. Magistrate Beth Faragher also ordered him to stay away from the father, who was in fair condition at Denver Health Medical Center with bruises and nerve damage to his right arm.
Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office, said such orders are fairly routine in cases where victims have suffered violent attacks.
Trujillo is accused of driving a pickup through a red light in downtown Denver on Friday night at high speed, killing Becca Bingham, 39, and her two children, 4-year-old Macie and 2-year-old Garrison. Frank Bingham, 41, survived.
The collision knocked off the license plate, helping police track down the suspects.
Trujillo was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide involving driving under the influence, four counts of vehicular assault while driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.
A passenger, 35-year-old Eric Snell, was charged as an accessory in crime, according to court documents.
Trujillo, who was not represented by a lawyer, made no comment in court Sunday except to say he understood the judge’s order.
The Binghams were out for a family evening Friday and were walking with Macie and Garrison riding in a double stroller, the Denver Post reported. They were crossing lawfully at the intersection, which had a traffic signal, authorities said.
Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said they didn’t know how fast the truck was going, but a witness had told the Rocky Mountain News it appeared to be going about 50 mph.
