ARVADA, Colo. — The man charged in a February crash in Arvada that killed a composer pleaded guilty Monday to multiple counts including vehicular homicide - DUI.
Juan Ortega Torres Jr. also pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular assault in Jefferson County District and, as a result, five other counts were dismissed.
According to police, Torres Jr. ran a red light at West 64th Avenue and Lamar Place in Arvada on Feb. 5 and crashed into Kresten Wolff Thomsen's car which sent the vehicle into the side of a home.
Wolff was killed in the crash, and his two children were taken to the hospital, one with serious injuries.
"A massive, massive musical talent has been taken away from us," said Casper Kobke, a friend of Thomsen. "If we put this into sporting terms, he would play major league, OK? This was a guy with a talent in the world of music that very few people can comprehend."
Wolff arranged compositions for musicians worldwide, including work with the Colorado Ballet. At a recent performance, students and choreographers were given the option to choose music. Every group chose a song composed by Wolff.
“In the people that he’s left behind, and the music that he’s left behind, 100% I would say his symphony is still playing,” his wife, Alicia Wolff, said last month.
She said their children are at home recovering from the crash, as they try to come to grips with what happened.
Torres Jr. is set to be sentenced on June 11.
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