Police hunt driver who killed boy in go-kart, fled

Motorist didn't stop after hitting two young brothers

Rosa Ramirez, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 25, 2007 at midnight

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The dazed 10-year-old was standing beside the go-kart that still held his dying brother when passers-by came upon what a hit- and-run driver left behind.

Just minutes before, Kaeden Von Duyke was sitting next to his brother, Quinton, when their red- and-yellow go-kart was hit from behind by someone who fled without contacting police or stopping to see if the boys were injured, Stephanie Topkoff, an investigator with the Westminster Police Department, said Sunday.

Westminster Fire Rescue was called about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Topkoff said. Passers-by, meanwhile, tried to perform CPR on Quinton.

The 8-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kaeden was transported by a Flight for Life helicopter to Children's Hospital, where he was treated for bruises and released, Topkoff said.

Quinton's family described him as a "loving, smart, talented young boy with a bright future."

"He made friends wherever he went and always had a smile," Pam Anderson, the victim's cousin, read from a statement by the boy's parents during a news conference Sunday at the Westminster Police Department.

Former state Sen. Norma Anderson, the boys' great-aunt, also spoke briefly and described Quinton as a "beautiful boy."

Police are asking for the public's help in finding the driver who left the scene of the wreck at West 96th Avenue, near North Pierce Street. Topkoff said the vehicle may have new front-end damage or signs of red and yellow paint from the impact with the go-kart.

The boys' parents were on vacation and the boys were visiting with their grandparents when the crash happened, Topkoff said.

The parents' names were not released by police or Pam Anderson.

"His life was cut short by a coward. The grief we feel cannot be put into words. A part of our life has been taken from us and will never be the same," Pam Anderson read from the statement.

"We would like to thank the community for the support that has been shown and hope that the person responsible for our son's death, and the injuries sustained by his brother, Kaeden, will step forward to help ease the grief our family is going through," the statement continued. "This world was a better place with Quinton in it. We all have sustained the loss of a beautiful child."

Quinton was driving the gas- powered go-kart and had a seat belt on, but his brother was not buckled in, Topkoff said the initial investigation found. Neither of the boys was wearing a helmet.

Topkoff said go-karts are not allowed on city streets.

The speed limit on parts of West 96th Avenue is 25 mph.

Several feet from the crash scene, there is a raised speed bump at a pedestrian crossing.

People have placed teddy bears, a cross and fresh flowers near the site of the crash.

Joanne Slyter, 53, said the incident "doesn't make any sense."

"There is just no traffic around here. I know that when school is on, there are guards in the morning to make sure people don't speed. And there's a speed bump to slow drivers," she said.

Slyter, who has lived on East 96th Avenue for some 10 years, said she saw two children riding the go-kart on the street and sidewalk earlier Saturday.

Slyter said at one point she saw the children lose control of the go-kart, which was traveling on two wheels.

"They slowed down and they waved at us," she said.

Slyter said that when she and her husband were leaving their home later that day, they saw emergency personnel and thought the children had injured themselves.

But it wasn't until she heard a man cry that she realized the injuries were serious, she said.

"I know that cry. It's a cry you can't explain but you know that it was more than just scrapes and bruises," she said, adding that her own son was struck and killed by a vehicle some nine years ago as he was riding his bicycle several blocks away from the scene of Saturday's crash.

"I know a lot about what the grandfather is going through because I've been there," she said outside her home.

"It's hard to have closure and to grieve if you don't find out what happened. Hopefully, someone will come forward soon."

ramirezr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303 954-5067

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