A Thornton man killed in a collision with a driver fleeing police was a 49-year-old father of two working extra hours to pay off his family's medical bills.

Brian Gleason, died at Chambers and Smith roads, when a 26-year-old Denver man roared through a red light at 60 mph at 7:54 p.m. Tuesday

Gleason lived in a modest brick-and-wood home with his wife, Sue.

"The past year has been hell on them," said a neighbor, Candice Nail, 24.

The Gleasons' young daughter has undergone several surgeries for a head and spine problem, Nail said.

"It's been a lot of medical bills," she said.

Nail said Gleason worked long hours - early in the morning or late at night - in an effort to support his family.

His wife was studying to become a teacher.

"She's mom of the year over there," Nail said.

Tuesday night's tragedy occurred minutes after Aurora police received an emergency call from a woman who reported that a man in a car had a gun and had threatened her, said Aurora Police Department spokesman Bob Friel.

Two minutes later, patrol officers spotted a suspect, identified as Antwan Gatlin, 26, of Denver, in a silver Dodge Intrepid and stopped him.

On parole for robbery and facing arrest in a domestic violence case, Gatlin raced off as police officers approached the window of his vehicle, police said.

Police followed as Gatlin drove erratically northbound on Chambers Road.

As the group approached the crest of a hill, officers broke off the pursuit because of the danger to other motorists, Friel said.

According to the initial investigation, the officers turned off their lights and sirens and slowed down to the speed of traffic, he said.

Friel said officers "are trained to discontinue the pursuit when it outweighs public safety."

Gatlin sped down the hill, police said, and smashed into Gleason, who was heading west on Smith Road.

The impact sent the vehicles into the northwest corner of the intersection.

A third vehicle also was damaged.

Gatlin, who was seriously injured in the accident, was under guard at an Aurora hospital.

Officers said they found a gun and illegal drugs in his vehicle after the accident.

lehndorffb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2792