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Suspect arrested in fatal Boulder County hit-and-run

Police arrested a suspect in connection with the hit-and-run death of a cyclist in Boulder over the weekend.

The alleged driver, 23-year-old Dante Johnson, was taken into custody by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on Monday on an unrelated warrant. The Boulder County district attorney on Tuesday filed felony charges alleging Johnson failed to remain at the scene of a traffic crash involving injuries or death, and failed to notify police about it. 

The hit-and-run occurred when Johnson allegedly struck 41-year-old cyclist John Wilkinson with a blue Toyota Highlander at 95th Street and Avocet Lane on Sunday just before noon.

The Highlander then fled the scene northbound on 95th Street, according to witnesses, with heavy front-end damage and a missing windshield.

Following the crash, Wilkinson was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to a news release from Colorado State Patrol, later Sunday the Highlander was found abandoned in Clement Park, Littleton, Colo.

The charge of hit-and-run resulting in the death of the victim is a Class 3 Felony and is punishable by between 4 and 12 years in prison. Fines range between $3,000 and $750,000.

“Throughout Colorado, there are far too many cyclists and pedestrians who are tragically injured or killed every year.” said District Attorney Michael Dougherty in the release. “Today’s arrest is a direct result of the immediate actions taken by the Colorado State Patrol and other law enforcement partners in response to this heartbreaking loss of life. As the criminal prosecution now moves forward, our office is committed to fighting for justice for the victim and his family.”

Dougherty thanked CSP investigators for the rapid response “a thorough investigation.”

Additional charge(s) will be filed alleging Johnsons driving conduct and his actions resulting in the death of the victim. Johnson is currently being held in the Arapahoe County Jail.

According to court records, Johnson has lost his license to drive several times in the past five years and has been arrested for numerous traffic offenses. Apirl 25, he pleaded guilty to driving under restraint and false reporting of an identification. Charges of expired plates and failure to provide insurance were dropped in a plea deal, court records show. 

In 2023, he was arrested arrested for driving under restraint and defective vehicle. A warranted was issued when he failed to appear in that case. 

In 2021, he pleaded guilty to speeding, with charges of no insurance and driving under restraint dropped according to a plea deal in Arapahoe County. 

In 2020, he was arrested on charges of driving under suspension in Boulder County. 

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