On 10-22-09 at approximately 01:14 AM Colorado State Patrol troopers responded to a two-vehicle accident on westbound Colorado 6 milepost 267 in Jefferson County.
A green 1997 BMW 528i was westbound on Colorado 6 at milepost 267 at a high rate of speed. A white 2005 J4500 MCI bus owned by Casino Transport, Inc. was also westbound on Colorado 6. The front of the BMW collided with the rear of the MCI bus.
The unrestrained male driver of the BMW has been identified as Stephen V. Sanchez, 39of Lakewood, CO. Sanchez sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene..
The restrained male driver of the MCI bus has been identified as John Dulz, 63 of Golden, CO. Dulz was not injured in the crash.
There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the crash.
Alcohol and speed are suspected of being contributing factors.
Next of kin HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
State Launches High School PSA Contest During National Teen Driver Safety Week
Denver – As part of National Teen Driver Safety Week, the student council at Abraham Lincoln High School in Denver is challenging fellow teens, as well as adults, to turn off their cell phones when they get behind the wheel. The students also plan to enter a Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest launched today by Colorado’s Teen Motor Vehicle Leadership Alliance, a group of government agencies and private entities focused on keeping young drivers safe. The theme of the PSA contest is the upcoming ban on the use of cell phones by teen drivers under age 18, which goes into effect Dec. 1st. The law also includes a ban on text messaging only for drivers age 18 and older.
“There are a lot of students who don’t know about the new law, so it is important that they become aware of it and also about the dangers of distracted driving,” said Jennifer Cole, student council president at Abraham Lincoln High School. “We’re trying to get the word out to ‘power down’ your phone as soon as you get in the car. We know that breaking the habit of texting or calling behind the wheel isn’t going to be easy, so it’s important do it now -- not only to avoid a ticket, but to save lives.”
Last year in Colorado, 48 young people age 15 to 20, were killed in motor vehicle crashes. That’s down more than 50 percent from the 112 fatalities for this age group in 2002. Safety experts credit the decline in deaths to the strengthening of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law in Colorado, which includes passenger restrictions, requires seat belt use and sets a curfew on new teen drivers. Safety advocates hope the new ban on cell phone use by teen drivers under 18 will save even more lives.
“The first year that a teen holds their driver’s license is the most dangerous time, and it’s critical that distractions like cell phones be eliminated so that they can gradually build skills and confidence to be safe drivers,” said Lt. Col. Doyle Eicher of the Colorado State Patrol. “But teens certainly aren’t the only ones who put themselves and other at risk by talking or texting while driving. Adults need to take responsibility and set an example by turning off their phone in the car to take away the temptation of using it. Change your voicemail message to include that ‘you may be driving’ so they should leave a message and you’ll call back.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. And on any given day, more than 800,000 vehicles are driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone.
Today, State Farm Insurance presented special awards to State Rep. Claire Levy of Boulder and Sen. Bob Bacon of Fort Collins for sponsoring Colorado's new law aimed at protecting drivers. “These legislators have taken steps to help reduce the number of teen crashes and ultimately save lives here in Colorado,” said Chester Ferguson, State Farm Vice President-Operations, Colorado.
Members of the Teen Motor Vehicle Leadership Alliance hope the PSA contest will encourage high school students to help inform their peers of the dangers of distracted driving and the new law. The contest is open to all high school age students across Colorado. There are three categories of PSAs to enter, including video, radio and print ads. The winning entries will be distributed to statewide media to begin running in December. There will also be prizes awarded to the top entries. The student with the best video PSA will receive a Sony Digital camcorder donated by Best Buy and a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart. The winner of the top radio PSA will get an Apple iPod Nano donated by The Bret Kay Happiness Foundation, and a flip video camcorder donated by Master Drive. The winner of the print PSA will receive $500 from the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association and four tickets to the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art. The deadline to enter is Nov. 16th. More information and contest rules are available at www.coteendriver.com.
# # #
“There are a lot of students who don’t know about the new law, so it is important that they become aware of it and also about the dangers of distracted driving,” said Jennifer Cole, student council president at Abraham Lincoln High School. “We’re trying to get the word out to ‘power down’ your phone as soon as you get in the car. We know that breaking the habit of texting or calling behind the wheel isn’t going to be easy, so it’s important do it now -- not only to avoid a ticket, but to save lives.”
Last year in Colorado, 48 young people age 15 to 20, were killed in motor vehicle crashes. That’s down more than 50 percent from the 112 fatalities for this age group in 2002. Safety experts credit the decline in deaths to the strengthening of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law in Colorado, which includes passenger restrictions, requires seat belt use and sets a curfew on new teen drivers. Safety advocates hope the new ban on cell phone use by teen drivers under 18 will save even more lives.
“The first year that a teen holds their driver’s license is the most dangerous time, and it’s critical that distractions like cell phones be eliminated so that they can gradually build skills and confidence to be safe drivers,” said Lt. Col. Doyle Eicher of the Colorado State Patrol. “But teens certainly aren’t the only ones who put themselves and other at risk by talking or texting while driving. Adults need to take responsibility and set an example by turning off their phone in the car to take away the temptation of using it. Change your voicemail message to include that ‘you may be driving’ so they should leave a message and you’ll call back.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. And on any given day, more than 800,000 vehicles are driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone.
Today, State Farm Insurance presented special awards to State Rep. Claire Levy of Boulder and Sen. Bob Bacon of Fort Collins for sponsoring Colorado's new law aimed at protecting drivers. “These legislators have taken steps to help reduce the number of teen crashes and ultimately save lives here in Colorado,” said Chester Ferguson, State Farm Vice President-Operations, Colorado.
Members of the Teen Motor Vehicle Leadership Alliance hope the PSA contest will encourage high school students to help inform their peers of the dangers of distracted driving and the new law. The contest is open to all high school age students across Colorado. There are three categories of PSAs to enter, including video, radio and print ads. The winning entries will be distributed to statewide media to begin running in December. There will also be prizes awarded to the top entries. The student with the best video PSA will receive a Sony Digital camcorder donated by Best Buy and a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart. The winner of the top radio PSA will get an Apple iPod Nano donated by The Bret Kay Happiness Foundation, and a flip video camcorder donated by Master Drive. The winner of the print PSA will receive $500 from the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association and four tickets to the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art. The deadline to enter is Nov. 16th. More information and contest rules are available at www.coteendriver.com.
# # #
Auto vs. Pedestrian Fatal Crash in Arapahoe County
On October 20, 2009 at approximately 9:12 p.m., Colorado State Troopers responded to a fatal crash on eastbound Iliff Avenue and Quebec Street. A white 1993 Chevrolet Geo was traveling eastbound on E. Iliff Ave through the green light at Quebec.
Two pedestrians were running northbound across Iliff Ave east of the intersection. The driver observed one of the pedestrians and slowed. The second pedestrian entered the right lane and was struck by the Chevrolet.
The restrained driver has been identified as Kimberly Hert, age 47 of Aurora, Colo. Hert sustained no injuries.
The adult male pedestrian sustained serious injuries and was transported via ambulance to Aurora South Hospital where he was later pronounced dead by an attending medical physician.
The crash remains under investigation and an update will follow as more information is obtained.
Next of kin have NOT been notified.
###
Two pedestrians were running northbound across Iliff Ave east of the intersection. The driver observed one of the pedestrians and slowed. The second pedestrian entered the right lane and was struck by the Chevrolet.
The restrained driver has been identified as Kimberly Hert, age 47 of Aurora, Colo. Hert sustained no injuries.
The adult male pedestrian sustained serious injuries and was transported via ambulance to Aurora South Hospital where he was later pronounced dead by an attending medical physician.
The crash remains under investigation and an update will follow as more information is obtained.
Next of kin have NOT been notified.
###
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Teens Urge Drivers to “Power Down” during National Teen Driver Safety Week
WHAT:
To mark National Teen Driver Safety Week, students from Lincoln High School and members of Colorado’s Teen Motor Vehicle Leadership Alliance are urging teen drivers and adult drivers to “power down” their cell phones while behind the wheel. The group will also kick off a high school PSA contest about the dangers of distracted driving and the new cell phone ban for teen drivers, which goes into effect Dec. 1st. State Farm will present the legislative sponsors of the bill, Rep. Claire Levy and Sen. Bob Bacon, with special certificates of appreciation.
Photo/Video Opportunity:
An impressive number of students—more than 40 members of Lincoln High School’s student council—will unveil a special display made of old cell phones and wear t-shirts they’ve designed with safe driving messages. The students will challenge other teens to spread the word about the importance of seat belts and the dangers of using a cell phone while driving.
WHO:
•Lt. Col. Doyle Eicher, Colorado State Patrol
•Heather Halpape, PR Manager for Safety Programs, CDOT
•Laura Martinez, East High School student and member of Youth Partnership for Health
•Jennifer Cole, Lincoln High School student council president
•John Debella, State Farm Insurance
•Rep. Claire Levy and Sen. Bob Bacon, sponsors of HB 09-1094
WHEN:
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE:
Abraham Lincoln High School, 2285 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219
Weather permitting; the event will take place outside on the patio off the Southeast parking lot (Federal & Iliff). The back-up location is in the auditorium just inside the main front entrance.
# # #
To mark National Teen Driver Safety Week, students from Lincoln High School and members of Colorado’s Teen Motor Vehicle Leadership Alliance are urging teen drivers and adult drivers to “power down” their cell phones while behind the wheel. The group will also kick off a high school PSA contest about the dangers of distracted driving and the new cell phone ban for teen drivers, which goes into effect Dec. 1st. State Farm will present the legislative sponsors of the bill, Rep. Claire Levy and Sen. Bob Bacon, with special certificates of appreciation.
Photo/Video Opportunity:
An impressive number of students—more than 40 members of Lincoln High School’s student council—will unveil a special display made of old cell phones and wear t-shirts they’ve designed with safe driving messages. The students will challenge other teens to spread the word about the importance of seat belts and the dangers of using a cell phone while driving.
WHO:
•Lt. Col. Doyle Eicher, Colorado State Patrol
•Heather Halpape, PR Manager for Safety Programs, CDOT
•Laura Martinez, East High School student and member of Youth Partnership for Health
•Jennifer Cole, Lincoln High School student council president
•John Debella, State Farm Insurance
•Rep. Claire Levy and Sen. Bob Bacon, sponsors of HB 09-1094
WHEN:
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE:
Abraham Lincoln High School, 2285 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219
Weather permitting; the event will take place outside on the patio off the Southeast parking lot (Federal & Iliff). The back-up location is in the auditorium just inside the main front entrance.
# # #
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)