Overview
- Colorado State Patrol, which announced the charges Thursday, accused 29-year-old Colton A. Wiedman of careless driving causing death, four counts of careless driving causing serious bodily injury, three counts of careless driving causing bodily injury, and a lane infraction.
- Investigators say the westbound plow lost control near mile marker 218, broke through the median’s cable rail, entered eastbound lanes, hit a Toyota that then struck a BMW, and then crashed into the team’s Sprinter van.
- The van tumbled down an embankment and the driver, Manny Lorenzana, died at the scene, while eight passengers were injured and one child was flown to a trauma center in critical condition.
- Because the counts are traffic misdemeanors and an infraction, Wiedman was ticketed at the scene rather than arrested, has been on administrative leave, and is due in Clear Creek County Court for arraignment on May 5.
- The case underscores winter hazards on the I-70 corridor and raises concerns about operating heavy plows on ice and how cable barriers perform when struck by large maintenance trucks.