A pedestrian was run over and killed by a hit-and-run driver shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday on South Broadway in Cortez.
Cortez Police Department Patrol Lt. Andy Brock said Geraldine Castilleja was hit near 4x4 Auto in the 1500 block of South Broadway.
Brock said a man, who came up behind the incident, stopped to help Castilleja, but she had died.
“She obviously had been run over,” Brock said.
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene.
An investigation continues into the incident, including information provided by two witnesses. But Brock said no one saw the vehicle that hit Castilleja.
Brock said Castilleja, who was recently married and is better known as Geraldine Israel, was in her mid-30s, but he did not have her exact age.
She lived in Towaoc and apparently was attempting to get home, he said.
Cortez police officers had contacted Castilleja several times Monday on alcohol-related calls, and an ambulance had been called to one of the calls, but she refused to be transported.
He said officers also offered her a ride home Monday, but she refused that as well.
Cortez police were familiar with Castilleja, who struggled with alcohol-related issues, he said.
Amanda Martinez, Castilleja’s former sister-in-law, said, “I just think she had a lot of personal issues. She was dealing with her own demons, addictions with alcohol and opiates. Our condolences go out to her family.”
parmijo@durangoherald.com
