THORNTON — Police are continuing to look into nearly every aspect of the Feb. 17 car crash that killed a family of five, including the medical history of the driver who reportedly caused their deaths.
The accident killed Randy, 34, and Crystaldawn, 31, Stollsteimer and their three sons, Sebastian, 12, Darrian, 9, and Cyrus, 7.
Police say Chavez reached a speed of 100 mph on Grant Street during the evening rush hour. When her SUV reached the intersection at East 84th Avenue, it clipped the rear of another vehicle and launched off a median. It landed on top of a Chevrolet pickup carrying the Stollsteimer family and then slid into the Urban Mattress Store at 450 E. 84th Ave.
Chavez and her two children, who also were in the Ford Expedition, were hospitalized for their injuries and released later that week.
Thornton police said that official toxicology tests determined Chavez had neither drugs nor alcohol in her system at the time of the crash.
Chavez’s family have maintained that a lingering medical condition caused the accident, because Chavez has no recollection of what happened.
Thornton Police spokesman Matt Barnes said today the probe into the exact cause of the accident is ongoing. “We are interviewing witnesses, doing mechanical inspections of all the vehicles involved, and reviewing the medical records of Monica Chavez,” Barnes said.
No charges are imminent, he said. Most likely the case will be presented to the Adams County District Attorney for review and to determine if charges are appropriate, he said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
