CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — A woman is facing vehicular homicide and DUI charges after two people were hit by a car alongside Interstate 25 near Castle Rock late Wednesday night.
The Colorado State Patrol said a trooper responded to a call that four people were having car trouble on northbound I-25 at around 10:30 p.m.
The trooper was helping the people with a missing tire on the shoulder of the road, CSP said, and told two of the people to get back in their car as a safety precaution.
CSP said the trooper was walking away from the two people when someone drove onto the shoulder of the highway and hit both of them, killing them instantly. The driver then ran into the guardrail, disabling her vehicle, and was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
The driver, a Castle Rock resident, is under investigation and is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol, according to CSP. She was arrested on two counts of vehicular homicide and booked into the Douglas County Jail.
The suspect was identified as 47-year-old Michelle Branch. She is also facing a misdemeanor DUI charge, according to jail records.
According to an arrest affidavit, Branch pulled over after the crash. When a trooper asked her what happened, she said her car wouldn't start and that she didn't realize she was in a crash. The trooper smelled alcohol on her breath and had her take a roadside test, which she failed. She refused to provide a breath test, the affidavit says. She also showed several signs of impairment including confusion, bloodshot/watery eyes, unsteadiness and slurred speech.
“Two lives ended due to one person’s choice to selfishly get behind the wheel while impaired,” said Matthew Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol in a statement. “This tragedy is another example of people failing to act responsibly, failing to make a plan for a sober ride, and failing to drive within their designated lane. Five lives changed in the blink of an eye and it didn’t have to happen.”
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The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) provides these tips for safe driving in Colorado:
Expect the unexpected
Slow down
Don't tailgate
Be aware of emergency crews
Heed signs
Obey flaggers
Stay alert and minimize distractions
Keep with the traffic flow
Plan your drive
Be patient and stay calm
It is also important to be aware of emergency vehicles.
Colorado's Move Over Law requires drivers to move over a lane when there’s an emergency situation along the shoulder. If the driver can’t move over, they must slow down significantly to avoid an accident.
The law was implemented in 2005 and strengthened in 2020. A CDOT news release states: "The updated law stipulates that if a driver is unable to move at least one lane away from the stationary emergency vehicle, the driver must slow down to at least 25 miles per hour on roadways with a speed limit below 45 miles per hour. On roadways with speed limits 45 miles per hour or more, motorists must slow down to 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit. Drivers that fail to slow down or move over commit the crime of careless driving, a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense that can result in up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $300."
CDOT recommends people check COtrip.org to find out about road conditions, construction zones, and traffic alerts.
9NEWS also provides traffic updates and alerts through the 9NEWS app.