AURORA | Investigators and death reports say state Sen. Faith Winter was legally drunk and responsible for a fatal crash on Interstate 25 in Arapahoe County last month in which the lawmaker was killed.
Winter’s blood alcohol level was 0.185% at the time of the crash, according to death reports from the Arapahoe County coroner. The legal threshold for drunken driving in Colorado is 0.08%.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office determined that two separate crashes occurred on northbound I-25 on Nov. 26, initially reported as a single five-vehicle collision.
According to investigators, the first crash occurred at about 6:05 p.m. when a Honda Civic traveling northbound struck a Hyundai Tucson and a Toyota Highlander.
Immediately after that collision, a Ford F-350 flatbed truck stopped in the left lane of traffic. A Hyundai Ioniq 5 then rear-ended the truck, investigators said. Winter was the sole occupant of the Hyundai and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators noted the Ford F-350 did not have visible rear taillights at the time of the crash but said the truck had been driving with “due regard.”
The sheriff’s office concluded Winter was at fault for the second crash that resulted in her death, according to sheriff department spokesperson John Bartman.
After reviewing evidence with the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, authorities said they determined no criminal charges would be filed in connection with the crash.
Winter was a Democratic lawmaker, popular among her peers, from the Adams County suburbs known for her focus on labor, education and transportation issues at the Capitol.
Winter was the subject of a state Senate ethics investigation in 2024 after appearing at a community meeting in her district visibly intoxicated. She was disciplined by the committee and said she sought treatment for alcohol abuse.
She represented Senate District 25, which includes parts of Westminster and Broomfield, after previously serving in the Colorado House.
During her time in the General Assembly, she sponsored measures dealing with worker protections, school funding and public safety.
Colleagues described Winter as a pragmatic legislator who emphasized collaboration and constituent service.
She became the face of the “#MeToo” movement in Colorado when she went public with allegations of sexual harassment by fellow state lawmaker Rep. Steve Lebsock in 2018. Lebsock was ejected from the Legislature after Winter persevered in demanding accountability for Lebsock’s actions.
She was widely praised after her death for strengths and determination as a public servant.
So sorry.
“… the Ford F-350 did not have visible rear taillights at the time of the crash …”
How is that called driving with “due regard”?
Would red brake lights not have signalled that the flatbed truck was stopped in the left lane so no one would run into it? Did that driver turn on his four-way hazard lights?
Th.is why I check our vehicles’ lights and turn signals.
(When turn signals flash more quickly than usual, such indicates a turn signal bulb is burned out.)