Jackson reportedly turned herself in amid waves of publicity generated by the crime, which was captured in surveillance footage on view below.
The student has yet to be identified, but she's said to be in stable condition, albeit "not out of the woods yet."
The last words are from Lieutenant Robert Rock, the main speaker at the press event.
Rock could not provide much detail about Jackson's statement about the incident, which took place just past 7 a.m. yesterday near the intersection of Colfax and Elizabeth. The victim was in a crosswalk when she was struck by a gray sedan, which didn't slow or stop after striking the teen.At one point during the presentation, Rock, who cited the ongoing investigation for his inability to provide additional details, held up Jackson's booking photo. Here's a screen capture of that moment:
At this point, the family members of the teen struck in the accident are requesting privacy while they concentrate on their loved one's recovery. In the meantime, the DPD is still investigating, with a new piece of evidence at their disposal: the car involved in the incident, which belongs to Jackson and has been recovered.Continue for our previous coverage.
Update, 11:42 a.m. February 28: The Denver Police Department has now confirmed that it's made an arrest in a brutal hit-and-run at Colfax and Elizabeth that's left a sixteen-year-old East High School student in critical condition.Before the day's out, we should know the name of the 31-year-old woman who's been taken into custody. Here are the DPD tweets with the latest.
The first tweet:
BREAKING: DPD has arrstd a 31 yr old fem in connection with the hit and run accident at Colfax & Elizabeth.We have also recvd av vehicle.
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 28, 2013
And the second:
CONT: the suspect is being process and identity will be released when confirmed.No further information at this time
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 28, 2013
We understand that the woman turned herself in to authorities -- and that police have possession of the vehicle that did so much damage.
Continue for our previous coverage of the East High hit-and-run, including surveillance footage and more. Update, 8:19 a.m. February 28: Moments ago, the Denver Police Department Twitter feed provided new information about a terrible hit and run near the intersection of Colfax and Elizabeth that's left a sixteen-year-old East High School student in critical condition; our original coverage, including surveillance footage, is on view below. The message reveals that the DPD is currently questioning a person of interest.
Here's the tweet in question:
BREAKING: DPD is speaking with a person of interest regarding the hit & run on E. Colfax.No further info.Anticipate updates later today
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 28, 2013
The part about "updates later today" suggests a certain confidence among investigators. Continue for a suspect description and more.
Original post, 5:44 a.m. February 28: It can be one of the busiest crosswalks in Denver. On one side of the street: East High School. On the other side: The Tattered Cover, Twist & Shout and more. But just after 7 a.m. yesterday, there wasn't much traffic beyond a gray, four-door sedan, which didn't stop for a red light at the intersection of Colfax and Elizabeth, and kept going even after bashing into an East student who's clinging to life at this writing. Photos and surveillance footage of the accident below.
Here's the clip, supplied by the Denver Police Department. Be warned: Even though the camera is some distance away from the spot of impact, and there's no audio, it's still hard to watch.
A larger look at the moment right before the girl was struck:
The thus-far-unidentified girl, age sixteen, was raced to a nearby hospital, where, at last report, she was in critical condition, with swelling to her brain.Afterward, the street quickly transformed into a crime scene....
...and investigators turned up a gray shard that's thought to be from the vehicle (possibly a Dodge Stratus) involved in the terrible incident: The description of the driver offered by police is sketchy -- a white or Hispanic woman in her twenties or thirties, with red hair that reaches to her shoulders.At a DPD news conference yesterday, Lieutenant Robert Rock passed along a message from a loved one of the injured teen: "She asks that we do everything we can to find who is responsible. She also asks that the individual responsible for this do the right thing and please come forward."
If you have any information about the driver or her whereabouts, phone Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). An award of up to $2,000 is being offered in the case.
Look below to see a 9News about the crime, plus a new Denver Police clip about investigation methods for hit-and-run accidents.
More from our Colorado Crimes archive: "Dennis Esquibel busted in fatal Laura McDermott hit and run -- but was he the driver?"
