DENVER -- Denver police arrested a man they said left the scene of an auto-pedestrian accident but later returned after being persuaded by his parents.

The pedestrian was hit at the intersection of Evans Avenue and Josephine Street around 1:50 a.m. Saturday. The intersection is only two blocks from the University of Denver campus.

When police arrived, they found the victim, identified as Lindsey Howland, 24, who was taken to Swedish Hospital in critical condition, said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson.

Police said the driver of the sports utility vehicle fled the scene on Evans after Howland was hit.

A short time later, Robert Jesse Gallegos arrived at the scene with his parents. Police arrested Gallegos, 22, on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident, vehicular assault and misdemeanor DUI., Jackson said.

Gallegos' 34-year-old sister, Lola Gallegos, was in the car with her brother and told The Denver Post that he returned to the scene. She said her brother was driving her car because she was drunk. She said he performed a sobriety test at a traffic stop less than 30 minutes before the crash, and officers allowed him to drive away.

The sister said she did not see the crash.