[ud_lose]

Denver Post July 15th, 2009

A race between two vehicles on Aurora streets last night resulted in a crash and the death of an innocent driver, police said.

The fatal crash happened at about 10 p.m. at the intersection of East Yale Avenue and South Peoria Street, according to a media release from the Aurora Police Department.

The identities of the drivers involved were not released.

Police said drivers of a Pontiac G8 and a red Jeep Cherokee were southbound on Peoria Street in what witnesses described as a "race."

An older, white Chevrolet Camaro was northbound on Peoria; when the driver attempted to turn west on Yale the, red Cherokee plowed into the right front of the Camaro.

"The momentum of the Cherokee pushed the Camaro backwards through a signal light pole, coming to rest against a street light pole in the median," police said. "The Cherokee severely penetrated the passenger compartment of the Camaro, coming to rest on top of the passenger seat."

Firefighters and police arrived at the scene and found the driver of the Cherokee and the Pontiac arguing.

Police separated the two men and firefighters worked to free the driver of the Camaro, who was unconscious, and pinned in his car. He died at the scene from "massive" injuries, police said.

The driver of the Cherokee was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. The driver of the Pontiac was not injured.

Investigators do not suspect that drugs or alcohol were involved in the fatal crash, but excessive speed was a factor.

Only the drivers were in the vehicles involved, police said, and the men did not know each other.