LOUISVILLE, Colo. – A recent sentencing in Boulder County is reigniting debate over Colorado’s legal penalties for deadly traffic crashes. A driver who struck and killed a Louisville woman while she crossed at a marked pedestrian crosswalk received no jail time—something local prosecutors say highlights a major flaw in state law.
The crash happened in a quiet Louisville neighborhood at the intersection of Via Appa Way and Sage Brush Way. A memorial now marks the site where a wife and mother lost her life.
“This was an untimely and tragic death,” said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. “It’s a direct result of distracted driving.”
Crash Details and Sentencing
According to Dougherty, the driver wasn’t drunk or speeding, but had taken her eyes off the road. Phone data showed that her messaging app and Pandora radio were both active near the time of the collision. Three witnesses reported seeing the victim thrown up to 15 feet, and police found her shoes in a nearby storm drain.
The woman pleaded guilty to careless driving resulting in death and was sentenced to:
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300 hours of community service
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Completion of a distracted driving course
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A fine
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Restorative justice at the family’s discretion
The victim’s family did not want the driver jailed, which Dougherty respects. But he says the law itself is inadequate.
“The Law Should Reflect the Loss”
Under current Colorado law, careless driving resulting in death is a traffic misdemeanor. The maximum penalty is one year in county jail, even if someone dies.
“As long as that remains a misdemeanor, I think we’re failing to hit the mark,” said Dougherty. “I strongly believe it should be a felony.”
He testified in favor of a bill that would have reclassified the offense as a Class 6 felony—the lowest felony level. That bill failed to pass during the last legislative session.
Calls for Reform Across the State
George Brauchler, District Attorney for Colorado’s 23rd Judicial District, agrees the law is far too lenient.
“For a long time, Colorado has had some of the weakest laws in the region—if not the country—when it comes to driving-related deaths,” Brauchler said. “You could drive drunk, kill an entire family, and still walk away with probation. That doesn’t make any sense.”
Brauchler also supported the failed felony bill and criticized lawmakers for rejecting it along party lines.
“I think it goes toward an ongoing theme that we devalue victims and devalue life on our roads,” he said. “That’s reflected in our death rate.”
Both DAs say they’ll keep pushing for stronger penalties that reflect the seriousness of the crime—and the lives lost.
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