Elsie Steffany, Killed Crossing Welton Street, Was Fifth Pedestrian Slain in Denver This Year

Aurangzaib Sharifi backed over Steffany while parking his van.

The three-lane, one-way street where Steffany was killed. Photo: David Sachs
The three-lane, one-way street where Steffany was killed. Photo: David Sachs

A month after a motorist killed Elsie Steffany, 55, the Denver Police Department has released a few details about the collision.

Elsie Steffany
Elsie Steffany

While Steffany was crossing Welton Street near 15th Street, Aurangzaib Sharifi, 33, backed over her as he parked his Dodge Caravan, according to Denver PD’s crash report. The impact sent Steffany onto the sidewalk. She died two days later from her injuries.

Police charged Sharifi with careless driving resulting in death, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a minimum of a $300 fine with no jail time.

Condolences from Steffany’s family and friends poured in on Facebook as she fought for her life in the hospital.

“Today we let her body make its final transition,” her daughter wrote on June 1. “We wished her well; but, in my heart and in my body, I’m saying hello to a new journey with her liberated soul.”

Steffany was a resident of Northern Virginia and worked for the Army, according to her obituary. She worked in Washington, D.C., Afghanistan, Germany, and sometimes in Denver.

Steffany was the fifth person killed while walking in Denver this year. Drivers have killed two more pedestrians since her death.

Steffany was killed in City Council President Albus Brooks’ district. To tell Brooks about the need for safer streets, you can contact (720) 337-7709, albus.brooks@denvergov.org, and via Twitter and Facebook.

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