Racer who struck University of Colorado student in hit and run takes plea

Jan. 14--Click photo to enlarge

(Boulder County Sheriff's Office / Daily Camera)

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A driver who struck and seriously injured a University of Colorado student in June in a hit and run crash while racing another car has pleaded guilty to one felony charge related to the case.

Online court records indicate Ruben Diaz, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of felony vehicular assault, and prosecutors dropped charges for leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury, speed contest, no insurance and driving under restraint.

Diaz appeared out of custody at Boulder District Court on Friday to enter the plea.

Diaz was speeding on Broadway near College Avenue when he struck Michlyn Romero, who was 19 at the time and studying pre-med at CU. She suffered fractures to her ankle, leg, pelvis, back, neck and skull.

Diaz fled the scene but pulled over a short time later and called police. He told police that Romero had been jaywalking and he didn't see her, but police later determined that Diaz had been racing another driver, Rodrigues DeSantiago, who was ticketed for racing.

Diaz is expected to be sentenced on March 23.

John Bear: 303-473-1355, [email protected] or twitter.com/johnbearwithme

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