Denver settles lawsuit from delivery driver after accident with police officer

The city of Denver will pay $350,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a delivery driver who was seriously injured three years ago when a police officer crashed into him while chasing another car on the wrong side of the road.

The Denver City Council approved the settlement with Christopher Cordova and a related $40,000 insurance settlement in a group vote Monday afternoon.

Cordova had just started making his delivery rounds for Bimbo Bakeries when the accident occurred on April 13, 2021, just after 3 a.m. on North Quebec Street, according to a lawsuit his lawyers filed last year. Cordova was driving in the southbound lanes near Sandcreek Drive and Interstate 270 when Officer Jacob Marsh approached in an unmarked Denver Police vehicle, which was traveling north on the wrong side of the road, according to the complaint.

Marsh did not activate his emergency lights or siren. He crashed head-on into Cordova’s vehicle, the complaint said.

Cordova suffered “serious and life-altering injuries,” according to his initial lawsuit. The lawsuit does not provide details about how Cordova was injured, but KDVR reports this that he suffered a broken leg. He racked up significant medical bills and was expected to have ongoing expenses related to the crash.

Marsh was arrested on suspicion of vehicular assault after the collision. According to a probable cause affidavit filed at the time of his arrest, he was traveling at 75 mph — 18 mph over the speed limit — in an attempt to pass another driver and make a traffic stop.

That car did not stop and was not involved in the accident, according to details released at the time.

Monday’s other settlement includes a payment of nearly $40,000 to resolve a legal claim filed by Fleet Response, an insurance company representing Bimbo Bakeries.

Marsh, who was also seriously injured in the crash, was suspended without pay on April 27, 2021, pending the resolution of his felony case. He was ultimately acquitted of vehicular assault and was fully reinstated to the force in August 2022, according to Denver police spokesman Doug Schepman.