DENVER — The driver suspected of crashing an SUV into a business Saturday morning has a lengthy arrest record including assault, theft and drug charges, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Ryan Nuanez, 24, was convicted of theft and possession of drug paraphernalia in 2013, and has been arrested in connection with multiple other charges, CBI records show.
Nuanez is accused of crashing a Chevy Tahoe into Accent Optics at Colorado Boulevard and Amherst Avenue about 10 a.m. Saturday, the Denver Police Department said. Four people were hurt in the crash.
The Tahoe was speeding and driving north in the southbound lanes of Colorado Boulevard when it crashed into the building, DPD reported.
Nuanez was hospitalized in serious condition. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor, but there were possible indications of drugs, police said.
Three people inside the store were also taken to the hospital, including the 60-year-old woman who owns the business. She was in critical condition, police said.
There was no evidence that the driver attempted to swerve or stop, police said.
The vehicle remained in the building for some time while officials worked to determine if the building was stable enough to remove it.
Scene at Colorado & Amherst, as #DPD & @Denver_Fire respond to auto vs pedestrian, building accident. #Denver pic.twitter.com/wfotBMqPeR
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) July 12, 2014