THORNTON — Police are still probing medical records of the driver blamed for a car crash that killed a family of five and are checking the mechanics of her vehicle, looking for the exact cause of the accident.
“We are interviewing witnesses, doing mechanical inspections of all the vehicles involved, and reviewing the medical records of Monica Chavez,” Thornton police spokesman Matt Barnes said Wednesday.
No charges are imminent. Most likely, the case will be presented to the Adams County district attorney for review and to determine whether charges are appropriate, he said.
Police say Chavez’s Ford Expedition reached a speed of 100 mph on Grant Street during the evening rush hour Feb. 17. At the intersection at East 84th Avenue, her SUV clipped the rear of another vehicle and launched off a median. It landed on a Chevrolet pickup carrying the Stollsteimer family and then slid into the Urban Mattress store at 450 E. 84th Ave.
The accident killed Randy Stollsteimer, 34, his wife, Crystaldawn, 31, and their three sons: Sebastian, 12, Darrian, 9, and Cyrus, 6.
Thornton police said that official toxicology tests determined Chavez had neither drugs nor alcohol in her system at the time of the crash.
Benefit to be held for Thornton family
Smokin’ Joe’s, 4700 Kipling St. in Wheat Ridge, will host a benefit for the Stollsteimer family March 13 from 2 to 6 p.m. A $10 donation is suggested at the door. To donate items or services to the event, contact Rick Rodriguez at 720-366-2345 or .com or Rich Floyd at 720-309-1778 or rich.floyd@oracle.com.
