GENESEE, Colo. — When news broke of the Christmas Eve crash on I-70 near Genesee, friends and co-workers of Sancy Shaw had their hearts broken according to her boss.
"I believe that's exactly what I felt, this is unbelievable," said Brandon LaChance, executive director of North Routt Community Charter School.
Shaw, 38, was married with four young children. She taught fifth and sixth grade at North Routt Community Charter School where LaChance said candles now line the sidewalk and a memorial sits in the hallway outside her classroom.
"This is the teacher that could do a chemistry project with our fifth and sixth graders and the next hour she's out back teaching kids how to fly fish in our backyard river," LaChance said.
He said Shaw's presence would light up the crowd.
"She was always the funny one," LaChance said. "She is the one who always had the best line in the room."
He said she was a runner, an avid camper, and skier. LaChance said Shaw was what mountain living was about.
"One hundred percent - she embodied what it means to live in North Routt. She embodied what it means to teach at North Routt Community Charter," LaChance said.
The State Patrol says 62-year-old Cheri Goodard from Frederick was driving eastbound on I-70 when she lost control of her Chevy Silverado. Investigators said Goodard crossed over the median and struck Shaw's car traveling westbound, killing them both at the scene. A 6-year-old girl riding in Shaw's SUV had to be airlifted to the hospital where she remains as of Wednesday night.
The Colorado State Patrol said alcohol and marijuana may have been a factor in Goodard losing control of her pickup truck.
Wednesday afternoon, LaChance hosted about 300 people who came out for a prayer vigil at the school for Shaw and her family.
"Sancy had a spirit about her like no other. Sancy Shaw was an amazing person. She was an inspiring teacher. She was a compassionate mother and an amazing wife," LaChance said.
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