PLATTEVILLE, Colo.—A 20-year-old woman who set off a chain reaction accident that left two men dead near Platteville has been sentenced to 6 months work release.
A judge Tuesday ordered Nellie Townsend of Westminster to report for work release May 10. A jury convicted Townsend of two counts of careless driving in the April 2009 deaths of 53-year-old Bruce Patterson of Longmont and 53-year-old James Matthews of Buena Vista.
Townsend reared-ended Patterson’s car, pushing him into the path of a car driven by Matthews.
Townsend had been listening to a book on tape when authorities say she failed to react to Patterson slowing down for traffic.
Patterson was musician and instructor at the University of Northern Colorado. Matthews was a homebuilder.
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Information from: Greeley Daily Tribune,
