Christopher Archuleta-Martinez arrested after Aurora crash injuring Toledo fire chief

Christopher Archuleta-Martinez is charged in an Aurora, Colorado collision that injured a visiting official. The incident harmed Allison Armstrong on a highway last month. She was in the state to honor a fallen firefighter.

The visiting official was riding in a rental car. She said a drunk driver hit the vehicle.

Chief Armstrong described the impact. It happened suddenly.

“I was rear-ended and then pushed out of my lane into the concrete barrier wall that was on the right side of the road,” Chief Armstrong said.

Responders rushed Armstrong to the hospital. She had a fractured sternum and two fractured vertebrae in her back. Her vertebrae were not displaced. She does not need surgery.

Her chest and back ached immediately. She said the first two weeks were the most painful.

“I couldn’t really take a proper breath. I had all this pressure and heaviness in my chest. The pain meds helped some of the pain enough that I could kind of breathe,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said the pain has improved. Full healing will take several more weeks.

“It is challenging to have these injuries and then not know how long it’s going to take to recover or if there’s going to be any lingering issues that need to be addressed. So, I’m just trying to take it as it comes,” she said.

Her kitchen now holds get-well cards. Responders in Colorado helped her settle into a hotel.

Members from Local 92 in town also aided her after hospital discharge. Armstrong praised the support.

“That’s the great thing about the fire service. It really is a family and a brotherhood and a sisterhood. All you have to do is ask and people will be lining up to help you,” she said. “These people don’t know me at all, and they dropped everything to help us out, which was awesome.”

Armstrong plans to start physical therapy soon. She said she focuses on gratitude during recovery.

“That’s just how I choose to live my life, to try to always see the bright side of things, and the positive and good things, and that’s really helped me get through this,” she said.

Her assistant and deputy chiefs stepped up to lead the department. They manage operations in Toledo while she recovers.

Police officers in Aurora located the other motorist. Police said the motorist fled the scene.

Officers identified the driver as Archuleta-Martinez, 21, of Centennial, Colorado. He faces several traffic allegations.

• DUI
• Reckless driving
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Driving without insurance

A police department investigates vehicle collisions and collects witness statements. Officers make arrests when drivers leave crash sites or drive impaired. Prosecutors then review the initial charges.

Armstrong remains away from her desk while healing from the Aurora wreck. Department leaders continue handling daily municipal emergency calls.