Ruben Aguilar Vasquez dies in fatal Thornton crash
Fatal Thornton crash death of Ruben Aguilar Vasquez – Obituary
A family is mourning the loss of Ruben Aguilar Vasquez, who was struck and killed intentionally by a driver in Thornton.
The tragic event occurred around 1:40 a.m. on Tuesday on West 84th Avenue, near the southbound on-ramp of Interstate 25.
The victim, 48-year-old Ruben Aguilar Vasquez, was remembered fondly by his daughter, Mariah Wallace, who was seen holding his photo at their home on Thursday.
“This is my dad, always so happy,” she shared, struggling with the immense pain. “I’m at a loss for words because this hurts so much. It feels unreal that I’m having to go through this. He was always happy and made the best out of everything.”
Mariah Wallace and Denise Martinez, Aguilar Vasquez’s girlfriend, have been unable to sleep, overwhelmed by the reality that he will not be returning home. “He was a huge part of me,” Martinez expressed.
Wallace reflected on the loss, saying, “My dad never told me what I wanted to hear, but always what I needed to hear. Now that he’s gone, I can’t get that from him anymore. That man took a big piece of my heart away.”
On July 23, Thornton Police responded to the scene on 84th Avenue near the I-25 on-ramp. They gathered various witness accounts, though some were inconsistent.
All witnesses agreed that Aguilar Vasquez was engaged in a physical altercation with another man, believed to be Mathew Lopez.
The arrest affidavit details that after the fight, Aguilar Vasquez walked away, and Lopez drove off in his red SUV. Lopez reportedly began speeding and targeted Aguilar Vasquez with his vehicle.
According to court documents, Aguilar Vasquez was struck, dragged, and later died at the hospital.
Martinez questioned, “Why did he stop? Why did he have to chase after Ruben if he wasn’t looking for trouble? Why couldn’t he just keep driving?” She may never find answers but is certain of the loss the community has suffered.
Martinez recounted Aguilar Vasquez’s generosity, noting that he would often distribute water, food, and blankets to those in need around downtown. He also checked in on elderly friends, mowed their lawns, and shared meals with the homeless.
“He had a very big heart,” Martinez said tearfully. “It’s devastating to know he won’t be coming back because he didn’t deserve what happened to him.”
According to the arrest affidavit, Lopez claimed that Aguilar Vasquez had struck him in the head with a chain lock during their altercation. Lopez told police he might have blacked out from the injury and did not know if he hit Aguilar Vasquez with his vehicle. Lopez is scheduled to appear in court next week.
Fatal Thornton crash death of Ruben Aguilar Vasquez – Obituary A family is mourning the loss of Ruben Aguilar Vasquez, who was struck and killed intentionally by a driver in Thornton. The tragic event occurred around 1:40 a.m. on Tuesday on West 84th Avenue, near the southbound on-ramp of Interstate 25. The victim, 48-year-old Ruben…
Fatal Thornton crash death of Ruben Aguilar Vasquez – Obituary A family is mourning the loss of Ruben Aguilar Vasquez, who was struck and killed intentionally by a driver in Thornton. The tragic event occurred around 1:40 a.m. on Tuesday on West 84th Avenue, near the southbound on-ramp of Interstate 25. The victim, 48-year-old Ruben…