Accused Denver Driver In Fatal Rollover Wreck To Appear In Court

DENVER, CO – A Denver man accused of drunken driving and causing a one-car wreck that killed his passenger and wounded a pedestrian will appear in court in Denver this week.

Leonardo Cano-Merida, 48, is charged with DUI homicide, leaving the scene of an accident, vehicular assault and driving on a revoked license for the accident that killed Fredy Jimenez Rodriquez, 20.

On June 10 around 10 a.m., Cano-Merida lost control of his car near South Federal Boulevard and West Harvard Avenue, a police affidavit said. The vehicle drove up on the curb and struck a pedestrian walking the sidewalk.

The car then continued into a baseball field and rolled over, causing passenger Rodriquez to be ejected from the vehicle. Rodriguez was declared dead at the scene from blunt-force injuries, the Denver County Medical Examiner's Office said in an email.

Cano-Merida allegedly fled the accident scene on foot and was taken into custody a couple blocks away at West Harvard Avenue and South Irving Street, the police report said. Cano-Merida showed signs of inebriation and was taken to a hospital where he consented to blood-draws to determine his blood-alcohol content.

Cano-Merida had a previous drunken-driving conviction from Sheridan, Colorado, in 2002 and had his license revoked by the State of Colorado, the police affidavit said.

Cano-Merida is being held in Denver County Jail on $25,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 27.

Image via Denver District Attorney's Office.

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