TORRINGTON – The Goshen County Circuit Court met in session promptly at 2 p.m. for the sentencing of Torrington man, Juan Gomez-Gallardo (68), for hitting long-time Torrington resident, Andrea Griffin (65), while she was crossing a busy highway intersection in Torrington on October 26, 2022.

Gomez-Gallardo proceeded to dislodge Griffin from his moving SUV directly after colliding with her, and promptly left her lying unconscious with severe bodily injuries.

Griffin would be hastily life-flighted to Greeley, Colorado where she would be hospitalized for three weeks.

The sentencing was presided by District Judge Thomas Lee, with County Attorney Eric Boyer representing prosecution.

Representing the defense of Gomez-Gallardo was Public Defender Denny Harts.

The proceedings began with Judge Lee addressing Griffin, who was accompanied by husband Gregg and brother Kurt Sittner, in regard to an impact statement she had submitted prior to the hearing.

“Mrs. Griffin, I did have the opportunity to read your impact statement in the pre-sentence report,” Judge Lee began. “I just want to make the comment that I recognize whole heartedly the difficulty, and the horrible position that you were unwillingly put in. I’ve been fortunate, or unfortunate to have been involved in the criminal system for thirty some odd years on a lot of different aspects and viewpoints. Over the course of those years, I have come to the realization that nobody listens. I did read your impact statement, and will say I was very impressed. There was a lot of gratitude despite the fact that you were put in a horrible situation. I hope that no matter what happens today here ma’am, you will be able to take that with what did happen, and the nightmare you are currently going through. I hope you will take that. I don’t know what closure means to you, but I do hope you can move on.”

Judge Lee proceeded to allow Griffin to make a statement to the court just prior to sentencing Gomez-Gallardo.

Fighting back tears while still maintaining composure, Griffin recounted the experiences she and her family have had to face since being violently hit and left for dead just over a year ago.

“Good afternoon,” Griffin stated. “On October 26, 2022, my life as I had known changed abruptly. I had thought for many months what I would say to the man responsible for this life-altering change. I have had many feelings such as anger, resentment and contempt. I do not want to be considered a victim, but a trusted soul when I was literally blind-sided from behind. I have spent over 40 years walking and riding my bike to work, and never thought my body would become so wrecked.”

Griffin’s words then became directed towards Gomez-Gallardo.

“I was walking innocently across the highway, you came from behind me and battered me with your SUV, swerved your vehicle to dislodge me and left me unconscious on an extremely busy highway,” Griffin continued. “You didn’t know if I was dead or alive. You had just broken several laws. I know you are a plain hardworking man who had just done the unthinkable, but you were only thinking of yourself; not me, my family or my friends. You behaved recklessly, and selfishly because you were scared. You did not think of the people who came to my aid. When I woke up on the highway, I was being cradled to prevent possibly any more damage. You ran, and my brother Kelly stopped on his way to work to direct the traffic, not knowing it was his sister lying helpless in the highway. I feel you were very afraid, and were a coward. You would have continued to hide had you not been caught by the school bus cameras. 

“I truly feel badly for your family. My body was very broken, and my injuries will be with me for the rest of my life. My insurance and out of pocket have covered all the expenses for my injuries. This person responsible has paid nothing.”

Griffin proceeded to remind the court of the injuries she received due to the incident which involved skull fractures, a broken orbital socket, lacerated eyes, a broken right wrist, a mangled left wrist, broken fingers, a broken left elbow, a broken left femur and has been suffering from impactful post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Each step I take, each time I take a bite, each time I blink, each time I move my arms, I am reminded that this is who I am now and will be forever physically limited. The icing on the cake is our grandchild was born just two days before this, and we missed out on his birth.”

According to Griffin’s husband, Gregg, the two had planned on traveling to Manhattan, Kansas that Thanksgiving to meet their new grandson. Due to the incident, the Griffins would not meet their grandson for another seven months.

Griffin’s words quickly changed to acknowledging an overwhelming amount of support, and help from friends and acquaintances in Torrington over the course of her recovery.

“In addition to all the horrible things I and my family have had to deal with, so many wonderful things have come out of this. I discovered beyond any doubt that I live in an awesome community. The phone calls, flowers, food, visits, prayers and kindness of total strangers has been very humbling. I am grateful beyond description, and would especially like to thank my husband Gregg, all my siblings, my dear friends and family, and our daughters Alison and Markie who helped me during very dark hours.”

Griffin also gave a special thanks to Torrington local, Randy Childs, for coming forth as an eyewitness during a year’s worth of legal proceedings.

After listening to the heart-felt words of Griffin, Gomez-Gallardo was given a chance to make a statement of his own as well as expressing a bit of remorse, or responsibility.

Through the assistance of an interpreter, Gomez-Gallardo simply replied with, “I have nothing to say, I just want to get out of this deep depression.”

Just prior to sentencing, Judge Lee spoke in the direction of the defendant with words of disappointment, and acknowledged what was indefinitely a very selfish and despicable act.

“If you would have stopped and acted like you cared about the person you had just run over, I don’t think we would be here today,” Judge Lee stated. “If you would’ve stopped and acted like it were an accident, I don’t think we would be here but you didn’t. You did not, because not for one second do I believe you did not know you hit somebody. You knew immediately that you had hit someone. She was on the hood of your car, you knew you hit her, you knew it happened and you didn’t stop. You did not act like a decent citizen, and you took off. In my experience, people take off for one or two reasons, especially in a car crash situation. Either they were drinking, or took off and just didn’t want to get caught. 

“You didn’t want to get caught, you didn’t want any ramifications and so you took off. That simply is not something that should be encouraged, and not something that should be overlooked. And I am not going to overlook it.”

With four counts consisting of reckless driving, failure to stop for an injury or accident, failure to give information/render aid and driving with no insurance, Gomez-Gallardo was given a jail sentence of 48 days.

“During those 48 days think about it,” Judge Lee concluded. “Think about your 48 days of unpleasant living and the rest of Mrs. Griffin’s life.”

Gomez-Gallardo is to begin his sentence at 9 a.m. on Monday, November 27 at the Goshen County Detention Center, and will be followed by two years of supervised probation with over $16,000 in restitution.

When asked how she felt about the outcome Griffin proclaimed, “I’m just so relieved now that it’s over.”

The court stood in recess at 3:05 p.m.