Woman dies after hit-and-run

While doctors worked to harvest the organs of Cinnamon Wells Thursday evening, her family waited in tears for it to be over, and police searched for the man they say killed her in a hit-and-run crash.

Wells, 29, left behind a husband -- Matthew -- and a 4-year-old son named Jakobi. "I still have to find a way to tell our son that his mommy is gone," Matthew Wells said. "I really don't know how to do that."

His wife was kept alive Thursday by doctors so the organ donations could be completed. Officially, she had been pronounced dead late Wednesday night.

Cinnamon Wells was riding her motor scooter at the intersection of 11th Avenue and 24th Street at about noon Wednesday, when a white Camaro turned through the intersection and hit her.

The driver stopped his car and ran on foot through a house and out the back door, according to Greeley police Sgt. Joe Tymkowych. On Thursday, police issued a warrant for Rodney Kenneth Montoya Jr., 21, of Greeley.

He is described by warrants as a habitual traffic offender, and his license has been revoked until 2011. He has a long traffic violation record, and he also was arrested last year for possession of marijuana.

When he's found, Montoya will be charged with hit-and-run involving a death, aggravated driving after revocation, and careless driving involving a death, plus several other traffic violations.

Tymkowych said police identified Montoya through eyewitness accounts of the crash. Plus, he apparently told a friend about his involvement in the collision Thursday night. He was driving a car listed under his name and his father's name, and the license plate expired in February 2007.

And while police continue to look for the man they say is responsible for Cinnamon Wells' death, her family struggles. "I don't really know what I'm going to do without her," Matthew Wells said. "She was such a sparkling person, and creative, and beautiful --" Wells' voice trails off as he tries to catch his breath.

Cinnamon Wells grew up in this area after her family moved here from Oklahoma. Her husband said she was active in 4-H, FFA and volleyball in high school at Valley High.

She worked for the Weld County Assessor's Office for six years, then quit to start her own business, Unified Valuation Appraisal. She had hoped to go to cosmetology school.

Matthew Wells is with Anadarko Natural Gas and was manager of Old Chicago Restaurant for 10 years. The Wellses were married for six years.

"She wanted to get the scooter to save money on gas," Matthew said. "When she left the house Wednesday, she said she wanted to take her scooter because with the weather changing, we might not be able to ride it later."

She suffered fatal head injuries and was rushed to North Colorado Medical Center, where doctors couldn't save her.

In 10 days, their son, Jakobi, will turn 5.

Wells is the 36th person to die on Weld roads this year, compared to 35 at the same time last year.

To help

Anyone with information about Rodney Kenneth Montoya Jr., 21, is asked to call the Greeley police at (970) 350-9600.