State patrol: Boulder County deputy was going through red light with sirens on in Diagonal injury crash

Mitchell Byars, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo.
·2 min read

Aug. 16—Colorado State Patrol officials said a Boulder County deputy was going through a red light with his emergency sirens and lights on in a crash on Diagonal Highway that seriously injured two people.

The crash occurred at about 9:40 p.m. Friday on Diagonal Highway near Niwot Road, according to Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis.

Lewis said the initial investigation found the deputy was driving north on Diagonal Highway when he went through a red light, hitting a 2006 Toyota Prius that was going eastbound on Niwot Road in the right lane of traffic.

Lewis said it appears the deputy did have his emergency lights and sirens activated at the time he entered the intersection.

The two occupants of the Prius, a 67-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman from Erie, were both seriously injured and taken to Boulder Community Health's Foothills Hospital.

The deputy and a K-9 that was also in the vehicle were medically cleared on scene and were not transported.

Lewis said the case remains under investigation, and charges have not been filed at this time.

The Boulder County Sheriff's Office said the deputy was on duty and was responding to a call at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. Deputies at the Boulder County Fair reported that a large fight had broken out and that some people were throwing rocks at deputies. There was also a report of a stabbing that turned out to be unsubstantiated.

Boulder County sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Haverfield said the officer was on his way to that call with his emergency lights on when the crash happened.

"As with any accident involving a sheriff's office vehicle, an internal investigation will take place to determine if any policy violations took place," Haverfield said. "The Colorado State Patrol is also investigating this incident, as they do with all crash investigations in unincorporated Boulder County, and they will determine fault. Based on their investigation outcome, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office will determine what, if any, disciplinary action needs to take place."