WASHINGTON, D.C. — A quiet stretch of Northwest turned into a scene of heartbreak Saturday night when 26-year-old Carlos Nahum Castillo Molina lost his life in a violent hit-and-run crash. What should have been an ordinary evening ride ended in tragedy at the intersection of 14th Street and Colorado Avenue NW.
The Metropolitan Police Department says the crash happened around 9:40 p.m. on March 1 in the 5400 block of Colorado Avenue NW. Officers rushed to the scene after reports of a pedestrian crash. They found Molina not breathing. Paramedics moved fast, transporting him to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Despite those efforts, he later died from his injuries.
Molina, a Northwest Washington resident, was riding a scooter when a 2005 Mercedes-Benz barreled into the intersection. Investigators say the car was traveling on 14th Street NW and ran a red light before turning left onto Colorado Avenue. That is when it struck two scooters crossing the street.
A 14-year-old boy riding alongside Molina was also hit. The force of the crash threw the teen from his scooter. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Authorities have not released any update on his condition.
Police say the driver briefly stopped after the crash. Then, in a move that stunned neighbors, the driver and a passenger fled the scene. The vehicle was later located by investigators. Major Crash Detectives are now handling the case as they work to determine what led to the fatal decision to run that light and leave two victims behind.
For Molina’s family and friends, the details offer little comfort. At 26, he had years ahead of him. Those who knew him now face the painful task of grieving a future that will never unfold.
The investigation remains active. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as the community reflects on a life cut short in a moment that changed everything.
