Denver man saved 2-year-old daughter from oncoming car, died days after crash

A Denver man who pushed his 2-year-old daughter’s stroller out of the way of an oncoming car in Montbello in early December, taking most of the impact himself and breaking multiple bones, died at home days after the crash.

Jorge “Alonso” Garcia, 35, was walking with his daughter Dec. 7 when he was struck by a car while crossing the street near 51st Avenue and Scranton Street in Denver’s Montbello neighborhood, according to his sister, Karla Alanis.

Garcia saw the car coming and pushed his daughter’s stroller out of the way before he was hit, Alanis said.

His ankle, elbow and ribs were broken and his ACL was torn in the crash.

The Denver Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a crash involving a driver and pedestrian around 5:25 p.m. Dec. 7 near 51st Avenue and Scranton Street and that the driver was cited for careless driving resulting in injury and driving without proof of insurance.

Garcia was released from the hospital Dec. 8 and was still in significant pain, Alanis said, needing help from his girlfriend and Alanis to get out of bed.

On the morning of Dec. 10, Alanis found her brother unresponsive, called 911 and started CPR. Emergency medical crews were unable to revive him after 45 minutes, she said.

“I just kept telling him to wake up,” Alanis said. “I was just thinking about his daughter, how she really loved him very much and how he was always making sure she was OK.”

Garcia’s autopsy report is pending, and Denver police said the case is still under investigation.

Alanis said her brother’s death has been devastating for his family, particularly with the holiday season. The family started a crowdfunding campaign to pay for his funeral and medical expenses.

Garcia worked in hazardous-materials cleanup and was an ardent Denver Broncos fan and would watch the games every week, usually with pizza, Alanis said.

But the light of his life was his daughter, Lizbeth.

“I remember walking in on them and he was singing ‘You’ve Got a Friend In Me,” Alanis said. “He was a good father, and he made sure his daughter never needed anything.”

Alanis said she wants additional charges filed against the driver who hit her brother and hopes that the Montbello community is more aware of the need to drive safely.

“He didn’t have a dad growing up, so he always promised her he was going to be there for her, and he was,” Alanis said.

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