A 20-year-old man was sentenced to three years in prison today after seriously injuring a Thornton police officer during a vehicle crash in September.
Fernando Malagon had previously pled guilty on March 22 to a vehicular assault/drunken driving charge.
Malagon’s blood alcohol measured .138 and he had cocaine in his system when he ran into officer Joe Dougherty on Sept. 24, according to a news release by Adams County District Attorney Don Quick.
“This is yet another example of the horrific impact of using drugs and alcohol and deciding to drive,” Quick said. “I have known Joe Dougherty for many years and I am glad he is alive and making progress in his recovery.”
The accident happened at 8 a.m.
Dougherty was making a traffic stop using emergency lights and waving over a vehicle on northbound Interstate 25 at 91st Avenue when Malagon swerved into the same lane as the officer and struck the rear of Dougherty’s motorcycle with the front of his jeep.
Witnesses had claimed that Malagon’s jeep was weaving in and out of traffic prior to the collision.
Dougherty received a pelvic fracture and an abdominal injury.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or or .
