LONGMONT — Heather Surovik, the 27-year-old pregnant Longmont woman who lost her fetus when her Pontiac sedan was struck by a suspected drunken driver Thursday afternoon, was still in Longmont United Hospital on Saturday, according to Longmont police Cmdr. Jeff Satur.
Meanwhile, Boulder County Coroner Emma Hall said in a Saturday-afternoon news release that her office “is investigating the death of a baby, Brady Surovik,” after the collision at 17th Avenue and Pace Street on Thursday.
Hall said an autopsy has been completed, “and the cause and manner of death are pending further investigation.”
Satur on Saturday morning disclosed Heather Surovik’s name and those of the passengers who had been riding with her at the time of the Thursday accident.
Satur said Scott Koester, Surovik’s father, has said his daughter “is making good strides toward recovery, which will be a long road, but she is alert and talking.”
Terry Koester, Surovik’s mother, also of Longmont, was in the passenger seat and also was injured in the accident, while Surovik’s 5-year-old son suffered minor injuries, police have said.
As of Saturday, Terry Koester was out of the hospital and was “doing better and recovering well,” Satur said. “Heather’s son is doing very well and playing like a 5-year-old.”
Satur said the family has asked that their privacy be respected. He said the family will provide updates, through the Longmont Police Department, on Surovik’s condition.
Gary Sheats, the 52-year-old Longmont man who was driving a Dodge Durango south on Pace when it struck the car driven by Surovik, is being held in Boulder County Jail. Authorities said Sheats was measured as having a blood-alcohol content of 0.292 percent after the wreck that left Surovik in critical condition, her near-term fetus dead, and her mother and son injured. A third car was involved, its occupants uninjured.
Prosecutors are scheduled to file formal charges against Sheats on Tuesday. Prosecutor Ryan Brackley said Friday that his office is waiting for Longmont police and the Boulder County Coroner’s Office to complete their investigations before making the formal decision on the filing.
Brackley declined on Friday to comment on whether his office is considering adding a vehicular-homicide charge to account for the death of the fetus.
