Truck strikes more vehicles after driver killed in wreck
A semi-tractor trailer truck hit a dump truck in Commerce City on Wednesday, killing the semi driver and sending four others to hospitals with minor to moderate injuries.
The semi was heading south on U.S. 85 at about 2:45 p.m. when it failed to stop for a red light at the intersection of East 104th Avenue, according to a Commerce City police report.
The dump truck, also southbound, was hit by the semi from behind. The driver’s side of the semi hit the right-rear corner of the dump truck, ripping off the semi’s driver door and ejecting the driver, the report cited.
The semi continued down U.S. 85, hitting six more vehicles.
U.S. 85 and 104th Avenue were closed in both directions until about 6:30 p.m.
Commerce City police Lt. Dennis Moon said the name of the driver is being withheld pending notification of family. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
DENVER
Marijuana initiative makes Nov. ballot
Colorado Secretary of State Gigi Dennis on Wednesday announced that the sponsors of a ballot initiative to legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults have qualified for the November ballot.
The measure, to be known as Amendment 44, would change state law to allow adults 21 or older to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana.
Under current state law, any person who possesses 1 ounce or less of marijuana commits a petty offense, which is punishable by a fine of up to $100.
In the 2005 fiscal year, state courts convicted 3,700 adults for possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana.
PUEBLO
Woman arrested in fatal stabbing
Pueblo police officers said they found a man fatally stabbed early Wednesday after they responded to a call for help at a mobile-home park.
Officers arrived in the 2200 block of East Eighth Street at 2:50 a.m. and found Tammy Segura, 36, kneeling over the body of Jess Palomino, 33 , according to a police news release.
Palomino, who had a stab wound to the chest, died at the scene, police said.
Segura was arrested and booked into the Pueblo County Jail.
DENVER
Tot taken by father returned to family
A missing 2-year-old girl was returned to her family safe late Tuesday night after being taken by her father, police said.
Christina Quintero was taken Sunday by her father, Cristobal Quintero, 30, according to Denver police. When contacted by the girl’s mother, Quintero refused to return the child, police said.
Tuesday “around 11:30 p.m., investigators working through friends of the family were able to return the child to its mother,” said Virginia Quinones, spokesperson for the Denver Police Department. “There is an active warrant out now for the arrest of Quintero.”
FRISCO
Services, scholarship set for photographer
Popular Summit Daily News photographer Brad Odekirk will be remembered in two memorial services, and a scholarship has been established in his honor.
The 42-year-old died Sunday morning after falling three stories from his condominium balcony, suffering severe internal injuries.
A celebration of Odekirk’s life will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Dillon Amphitheatre. There will be a reception following at the Dillon Community Church. There will be a memorial service at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 E. Grace Blvd., in Highlands Ranch.
Also, the newspaper has established a scholarship fund, to be supported in part by sales of an upcoming book of Odekirk’s photographs.
The family has asked that donations be sent to The Brad Odekirk Scholarship Fund, c/o Summit Daily News, P.O. Box 329, Frisco, CO 80443-0329.
FREMONT COUNTY
Manhunt launched after teen’s death
A manhunt was underway Wednesday for a 28-year-old man who is a “person of interest” in the death of a 16-year-old girl, police said.
Fremont County sheriff’s deputies are looking for James Hiltz, who is 5-feet-10, weighs 155 pounds and has blond hair and blue eyes, according to police.
Authorities responded to a 911 call of a body in the 2800 block of County Road 1 at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Samantha McCalla, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. The cause of death is still under investigation.
McCalla said a canine tracking team from the Colorado Department of Corrections is searching the area for Hiltz. Tactical teams from the Sheriff’s Office and Cañon City Police Department are assisting in the search.
FORT COLLINS
Woman recovering from West Nile bout
A 52-year-old Fort Collins woman contracted a serious form of West Nile virus from a mosquito bite, according to the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment .
The unidentified woman began to feel virus symptoms July 29 and spent a week in Poudre Valley Hospital recovering, according to a Larimer County news release.
In the past two weeks , 18 positive mosquito samples have been collected in Fort Collins – the highest level this year, said Mike Doyle , West Nile virus educator for Larimer County.
LOVELAND
Two Larimer County wildfires contained
Firefighters contained two wildfires in Larimer County, west of Loveland, Wednesday evening.
The Cedar Creek fire burned 5 acres before being contained, said Reghan Cloudman, spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service .
The Jug Gulch fire, near the area of the 2000 Bobcat Gulch fire, consumed 12 acres, Cloudman said.
Cloudman said four smoke jumpers and three single-engine air tankers were deployed with local agencies’ assistance to fight the fires.
Crews remained overnight Wednesday to monitor the fires.
There were no injuries or buildings damaged in the two blazes, authorities said.
