Man convicted in crash that killed 2

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — A man who killed a mother and daughter in a crash while driving drunk has been convicted on all counts. 

The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in a release that on April 8, 2022, a mother, father and their two children were driving home from celebrating their daughter’s 6th birthday when their SUV was hit by a truck traveling in the wrong direction on South Chambers Road near East 6th Avenue in Aurora. 

The investigation revealed Juan Pablo Pascual-Licea, 32, was driving more than 80 mph when the crash happened. The 10-year-old boy and his father suffered serious injuries but survived. The girl and her mother died at the hospital. 

Police said Pascual-Licea hit a bicyclist and then almost hit a group of teenagers in a crosswalk before the crash. 

Nearly an hour after the crash, the DA’s office said, Pascual-Licea’s blood alcohol content was .181. That’s more than twice the legal limit. 

The jury returned guilty verdicts on the following charges after a three-day trial, according to the DA’s office:

• Vehicular homicide – DUI (two counts)
• Vehicular assault – DUI (two counts)
• Child abuse – knowingly/recklessly causing serious bodily injury
• Child abuse – knowingly/recklessly causing death

“In the blink of an eye, a family is torn apart by the selfish actions of someone who chose to drive drunk and endanger multiple lives,” Senior Deputy DA Meghan Gallo said in a statement. “As a mother, I cannot imagine the heartbreak, grief, and devastation this family has suffered. It was a privilege to prosecute this case and bring justice to this family.”

“There is no excuse or justification for the defendant’s egregious actions that night,” Senior Deputy DA Doug Bechtel said. “A father woke up several days later in a hospital bed, only to learn his wife and daughter were dead, and his son would have to learn how to walk again. Their lives are forever changed based on the defendant’s inexcusable behavior to drive drunk.”

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 15. 

“This was a heart-wrenching case and I’m proud of my team’s hard work to find justice for this family,” District Attorney John Kellner said. “This defendant senselessly killed a sweet little girl coming home from her birthday party and her mother. A long prison sentence is warranted to send a message that we won’t tolerate impaired drivers on our roads.”

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