74 Year-Old Driver Cited in Careless Driving Incident

2 Construction Workers Killed in Exit Ramp Crash

Colorado State Patrol has released the name of a 74 year-old man suspected of killing two road workers in an apparent case of careless driving.

Thomas Garrity, 74, of Bellevue, Nebraska, was cited for careless driving causing death as a result of the collision. The incident took place at the intersection of C-470 and Broadway.

The two victims, Joseph Schwartz, 47, and Jesus Villalobos, 27, were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The two men were employed by Concrete Works of Colorado, a construction company that was hired to complete bridgework at the Broadway overpass at C-470.

Investigators examined Garrity's vehicle to determine if there were any faulty components such as brakes or the accelerator. The inspection is part of a protocol followed by investigators for any fatal car accident.

Garrity apparently lost control of his 2007 Subaru Tribeca while exiting C-470 towards the Broadway onramp. The vehicle went up and over a hillside and down the other side, striking the two men as they stood near the road.

After colliding with the two construction workers, the Tribeca also struck a Honda Pilot. The driver of the Honda was not injured, but Garrity and his 72 year-old female passenger were transported to a local hospital where they were treated for moderate injuries.

If you are injured in a pedestrian vs car accident, or any accident by no fault of your own in the greater Denver metro area, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. today for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Sources: Man, 74, cited for careless driving in accident that killed two Read more: Man, 74, cited for careless driving in accident that killed two, Driver in fatal C-470 wreck to be cited

National Transportation Safety Board Recommends Collision Prevention Technology Be Made Standard

NTSB: Standardization Would Cut Fatal Accidents in Half

Members of the National Transportation Safety Board officially recommended that the federal government require automakers to install new collision prevention technology on all new cars and trucks, a maneuver that administrators say would cut annual fatal accident rates in half.

Collision prevention technology already comes installed in many new vehicles. The features include automatic braking when sensors detect an imminent collision, electronic stability control, adaptive cruise control, and a lane departure warning system.

The recommendation was met with animosity from a coalition of automakers. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers indicated that implementation of technology that would alert a driver of an impending crash would cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 per vehicle. Adding a system that brakes automatically in dire situations would cost about $3,500, according to the alliance.

"Automakers see great promise from their driver assist technologies, and we are urging consumers to check them out, but the choice to purchase one or more belongs to consumers," indicated Gloria Bergquist, vice president of the alliance.

Bergquist added that the tumultuous economy has increased automaker concerns regarding affordability, and that the average price of a new vehicle is already well over half the median U.S. income.

Safety advocates, however, believe that the required implementation of the new technology would in fact drive down automobile prices.

"Some of this technology can be done for literally just a few dollars." added board member Robert Sumwalt.

"While it sounds like a lot of items, basically you are taking advantage of the sophisticated electronics in all modern autmobiles," said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a consumer advocacy group. "Why limit major safety improvements to a few primarily luxury models?"

If you are injured in an automobile accident by no fault of your own, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. today for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Source: NTSB urges safety technologies be made standard

Four Car Crash in Loveland Ends in Reckless Driving Charges

73 Year Old Man Charged in Bizarre Incident

A firefighter inspects a vehicle damaged in a four car crash in Loveland. 

The driver of the pick-up truck in the background was cited for reckless driving 

(Jenny Sparks)

A multi-car crash in Loveland has police and investigators scratching their heads as a result of the many conflicting stories surrounding the incident. 

The string of crashes allegedly began when 73 year-old Louis Varn of Johnstown, driving a green Chevrolet pick-up truck, rear ended Fort Collins resident Jodi Barrett at East Eisenhower Blvd. and Denver Avenue. According to Barrett, the pick-up continued driving when she pulled over to exchange information. 

Barrett then decided to follow the vehicle, and even confronted the driver at a stop light. Varn apparently denied hitting her vehicle and drove away, minutes later causing another multi-vehicle crash. 

The four vehicle accident occurred at the Y intersection of Lincoln and U.S. 287. Varn allegedly ran a read light and rear ended a vehicle at in the right hand turn lane, pushing the vehicles into stopped traffic facing west at the intersection.

Varn apparently told police later that he did not rear-end Barrett's vehicle, but instead witnessed the rear ending and was also following the vehicle that caused the initial accident. Because Barrett's car did not have any ostensible damage, and because Varn's pick-up was damaged so heavily in the later accident, police did not have enough evidence to charge him for crimes in both accidents.

Varn was ultimately charged with reckless driving relating to the four-car crash. He was injured in the crash and transported to McKee Medical Center in Loveland and later released. No other injures were reported as a result of the crash.

If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident by no fault of your own, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. If you are in the greater Denver metro area, call the Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Source: Driver in four-car Loveland crash charged with reckless driving

1 Injured in Bike vs. Car Accident in Deer Creek Canyon

Incident Mirrors Bike Rage Citation In Longmont

A cyclist was injured in Deer Creek Canyon after the driver of a Ford Ranger pick-up truck allegedly honked at a group of bikers for about 30 seconds before colliding with a member of the group.

Byron Nix, 45, was riding with 12 other cyclists on a windy road through the canyon when a motorist behind them began honking excessively and yelling at the group riding single file. The driver, Andrew Hoover, accelerated into Nix's bike and stopped just before running him over. Hoover was cited for careless driving.

According to Nix, Hoover got out of his vehicle and began screaming obscenities at the cyclists before grabbing Nix's damaged bicycle and throwing towards the side of the road. After members of the cycling trove rode ahead to get cell service and called for help, Nix was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for hip, neck, back, and shoulder injuries.

Hoover's version of the incident differs slightly. He maintains that Nix should have been cited for riding too far from the shoulder. He also claims that he was remorseful after the crash, and that attempts to portray him as uncaring or intentionally trying to cause the accident are untruthful.

Colorado State Patrol has indicated there is not enough evidence that Hoover intentionally collided with Nix. However, if more information becomes available indicating that Hoover intended to hit the cyclist, he could be charged with assault. 

The incident is the latest in a string of auto vs. bike accidents across the front range that have exasperated a city with an ever-growing number of recreational cyclists.

If you are injured in a bicycle vs automobile accident by no fault of your own, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. Call The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger, P.C. today for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Sources: Alleged bike-rage incident pits Byron Nix against Herbert Hoover's grandson, Pickup hits cyclist on popular Littleton riding route; driver blames cyclists

Suspected Driver in C470 Hit & Run Fatality Arrest

Suspect's Fabricated Story Delayed Arrest

The suspect in a hit and run fatality crash near C-470 and I-25 has been arrested. Erin Finn, 20, has pending charges of vehicular homicide in connection with a violent hit and run that shut down C-470 near Yosemite Street closed in both directions for several hours early last Thursday morning.

The white Pontiac Grand Prix that Finn was allegedly driving at the time veered from the westbound lanes of C-470 onto the grassy median and eventually into eastbound lanes and collided with Dolce's Ford Escape. Dolce was killed instantly. The accident occurred at around 3:05 a.m, November 1st.

Finn apparently walked away from the deadly accident that killed Dennis Dolce, 51, of Littleton. She approached a witness who had stopped to call 911 following the crash, and that witness allowed Finn to get in his vehicle. Police questioned the witness, and he was allowed to leave with Finn in his vehicle after it was discovered that he did not see the accident in person. The witness later drove Finn to a nearby 7-11 after Finn reportedly told the man "I have to get out of here."

Police have indicated that Finn fabricated a story to deceive officers, stating that she returned home from a party on October 31 with two men. When she awoke the next morning, Finn claimed her wallet, car, and purse had all been stolen.

The car Finn was driving was reported stolen approximately one hour after the crash. It is unclear why the witness did not inform police of the woman in his car.

Finn was ultimately arrested after a search warrant was issued for her house by Lone Tree Police Department. Her bond was set at $50,000, last Friday. She posted bond later that day, according to court documents.

If you are injured in a hit and run accident, or any accident by no fault of your own, you need to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. If you are in the greater Denver metro area, contact The Law Offices of Robert Paysinger today for a free initial consultation. We help injured people - it's all we do!

Sources: Police: Suspect in fatal C-470 crash fled, fabricated stolen car story Read more: Police: Suspect in fatal C-470 crash fled, fabricated stolen car story, New details released about driver suspected of fleeing fatal wrong-way crash on C-470