LAKEWOOD, Colo – A family of a Lakewood man who was killed by a hit-and-run driver is asking for the driver to turn themselves in.
Someone hit Jason Barela while he was walking on 13th Avenue and Otis Street at around 10 p.m.
According to witnesses, they heard the driver hit Barela, and ran out to the driver speeding away.
The witnesses stayed with Barela until paramedics came.
Barela’s family found out Barela had passed the day before Thanksgiving.
“I believe he was possibly on his way home,” said Alexandra Barela, the daughter of Jason Barela. “He’s a son, he’s a father to me, and a brother. He is just more than a person that they hit and left behind like they did.”
“We were worried that night,” said Treasure Gabaldon, Barela’s soon-to-be daughter in-law. “He was engaged to my mother, he made her so happy. We found out the next day that he died, and it was just like a hit in the face.”
Barela’s family just want to grieve in peace.
“It’s just hard to do that when these people are still out there,” Barela said.
The only comfort Barela’s family has is knowing he wasn’t alone when he was suffering.
“Someone was actually there trying to help him,” Gabaldon said. “They actually tried to help him, and give him his life back, but it was too late. I’m forever grateful to them.”
Barela’s family is trying to start a petition in that area on 13th and Otis St. because they said the area has a lot of drivers that speed, and that it is too dark.
If anyone has any information on the hit-and-run incident contact the Lakewood Police Department at 303-987-7111
