State Sen. Faith Winter was killed in one of two crashes last week on Interstate 25 south of Denver that happened at about the same time and close to each other, authorities said Monday.
The first crash involved two vehicles and left two people injured. The second involved three vehicles, including one Winter, a Broomfield Democrat, was in.
Winter was one of two people injured in the second crash. Winter was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office initially said the crash that killed Winter involved five vehicles.
The two crashes happened Wednesday at about 6 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 25 near Dry Creek Road. The interstate was closed for hours as police investigated and cleaned up.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said its investigators “are currently conducting a full accident reconstruction, which is standard practice for any crash of this severity.”
“The process is detailed and complex, particularly when injuries or fatalities occur, or when multiple vehicles, commercial vehicles, potential criminal charges, or unclear circumstances are involved,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release. “Investigators are actively interviewing drivers, passengers and witnesses, and the analysis may take several weeks or longer to determine how and why the crash occurred.”
Winter’s autopsy is expected to take at least a month to complete.
Information on the other people injured in the crashes have not been released. All were taken to a hospital or hospitals.
Winter, 45, is survived by her 16-year-old son, Tobin, and 14-year-old daughter, Sienna. She’s also survived by her fiancé Matt Gray, a former state representative and fellow Democrat.
Winter was a fierce advocate for transit and served as chair of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee. She was entering her 12th and final year as a state lawmaker because of term limits.
A memorial service for Winter will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Colorado Capitol. A celebration of life reception will follow.
“This remains an open and active investigation. No additional information will be released until the reconstruction is complete,” the sheriff’s office said in a written statement.
Investigators ask that anyone who witnessed either crash and has not yet spoken with authorities contact Deputy Benjamin Sears at bsears@arapahoegov.com.