WELD COUNTY, Colo. — Drive Smart Weld County will retire the crash car that belonged to 22-year-old Zach Maurer, who died in a car crash back in 2005.
Maurer was killed in a single vehicle rollover crash on September 20, 2005. According to his mom, Lori Stutts, not wearing a seatbelt, speed and driving under the influence of alcohol played a role that day.
“I can’t remember if was later that day or the next day when they finally let us see the car, since it was under investigation. It was hard for my parents to see the car, they felt at fault because they were the ones who helped Zach buy it,” said Stutts.
Zach was ejected from the vehicle at 70 miles per hour in a 35mph zone and had a blood-alcohol content of .15.
“There was still some of Zach’s things in the car, a change of clothes he always had with him, a blanket I had given for his birthday. The driver side when it rolled, it caved in. The glass was broken, the trunk wouldn’t shut. Tires were flat and still some chunk of dirt and grass stuck to it,” said Stutts.
Drive Smart Weld County has been displaying Maurer’s car at schools and colleges around Weld County for almost two decades to serve as a reminder to young drivers of the dangers of unsafe, distracted and intoxicated driving.
“After seeing the car my first thought was ‘Drive Well Weld County’ because I had actually volunteered for the program multiple times in the past and I knew it was a great program,” said Stutts. “A parent should never have to go through losing a child, so it was goal that I wanted to save as many kids as I could.”
According to the organization, Weld County continues to rank as one of the highest of all counties in the state for motor vehicle related injury and death.
The retirement crash car ceremony will be held Friday at 1:00pm at Greeley West High School. Stutts and other guest speakers will be in attendance.
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