AURORA, Colo. -- A 23-year-old driver who sparked a chain collision crash that killed two women heading to a hamburger stand and a 3-year-boy sitting patiently inside an ice cream shop should have never been behind the wheel, Aurora police said Friday.

Francis Hernandez has never had a license in his life, Aurora police Lt. John Sopranuk said.

Hernandez ran from the crash scene, was picked up by a friend, and then showered and changed before police could arrest him roughly two hours after the Thursday night crash, Sopranuk said.

Witnesses told police that at about 8 p.m. they saw a blue sport utility vehicle driving erratically -- speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. The southbound SUV ran a red light at Havana Street and Mississippi Avenue and broadsided a northbound vehicle making a left turn, witnesses said.

That vehicle, a white Mazda pickup truck, slammed into a utility box and a Baskin Robbins shop. Debris from that transformer snagged 3-year-old Marten Kudlis, who was sitting by the window at Baskin Robbins, and flung him out of the ice cream parlor.

He and the two women in the pickup truck -- identified as Patricia Guntharp, 49, of Centennial and Debra Serecky, 51, of Aurora -- died at the scene.

"I think what makes this so traumatic is the child -- the innocence of being in the Baskin Robbins store, simply waiting for ice cream -- and just the randomness of the women in the Mazda, who were probably going to get a burger ... They were very good friends and they were just trying to have quality time together," said Sopranuk.

Guntharp was making a turn into Good Times restaurant, located just north of the Baskin Robbins.

"She probably didn't even see it coming," Sopranuk said.

Marten's mother, who was at the counter ordering a treat for her son, was unharmed. A 10-year-old girl sitting with Marten had minor cuts from the shattered glass window. The girl was a family friend who happened to be at Baskin Robbins with her father, police said.

Family friends told reporters at the scene that Marten had just gone to the park with his family and stopped into Baskin Robbins for a treat. He had just celebrated his third birthday and was extremely bright.

"It's senseless. It's pointless. It's disgusting," said family friend Sean Erhard. "Everybody loved the kid. He was two and almost speaking three languages. I have a 10-year-old daughter and ... I can't even imagine."

Marten's grief-stricken mother and father were at the Baskin Robbins all Friday. They arrived in the morning, and placed a framed picture of him and a stuffed yellow duck at the makeshift memorial, which had sprung up overnight near the newly boarded facade.

"I saw the two shoes of the little boy, the blanket and puddle of blood and it broke my heart," said eyewitness Lucy Laipnicks.

Hernandez Does Not Have License, Insurance, Police Say

When police arrived minutes after the crash, they noticed a large debris field and started immediately interviewing witnesses.

"In 28 years as a police officer, it was quite a sight," said Sopranuk.

Hernandez is currently being held on suspicion of three counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of felony hit-and-run, reckless driving and vehicular homicide.

He did not have proof of insurance and police could not find a valid license ever issued to him in Colorado or in California, where he had lived, Sopranuk said.

Police said after the SUV rolled onto the side of the Baskin Robbins, Hernandez jumped out and ran. A witness who is cooperating with police said she was asked to pick up Hernandez several miles from the crash scene.

Hernandez was arrested at a home in southeast Denver. Sopranuk said one of the complicating factors in the case was that Hernandez was able to take a shower and destroy evidence on his clothes and his body before he was contacted by police.

There was no alcohol in the vehicle and no alcohol on his breath and he never said he was drinking so police did not have probable cause to test for his blood alcohol level, police said. However, Sopranuk said investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs were involved.

Hernandez had minor injuries to his stomach, chest and face.

Hernandez initially cooperated with police and acknowledged his role in the crash, saying that there was another person in the Chevrolet Suburban, Sopranuk said. However, all seven eyewitnesses said they only saw one person in the SUV.

Eyewitnesses also said because the SUV was moving so recklessly through traffic that they thought it had been stolen, or was fleeing from police, but Sopranuk said the Suburban was not stolen, and had not been involved in any prior crime.

Hernandez has a lengthy criminal history, including charges of assault and numerous traffic offenses.

It will be two weeks before an accident reconstruction team can finish their technical analysis of the crash and determine exactly how fast Hernandez was traveling, police said.

Hernandez is currently in jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Agent Johnny Lee at 303-627-6080.

Xcel crews were out overnight restoring power to the area and replacing the transformer at the Market Square Shopping Center that had been hit.

Police Say Crash A Senseless Tragedy

Tom Rudy, who owns a liquor store nearby, said he heard a loud crash, called 911 and then went to help.

"It was like an explosion, and then there was dust flying everywhere," he said.

Also hurt inside the Baskin Robbins store were Haley Tepe, 43, who suffered a severe cut to her leg, and Margaret Raines, 41, who had a cut to her lip. Both women have been treated and released.

The owner of this Baskin Robbins franchise store, Jason Pierce, said he was shaken after learning people had died.

"Anything that happened to me is fixable. It's replaceable," he said. "My heart goes out to the families involved."

Jina Miller, whose daughter had worked at the Baskin Robbins, brought a bouquet of sunflowers to leave at the memorial.

"A child ... it's senseless. Reckless drivers in Colorado, everyday, it gets sickening to hear it everyday," said Miller.