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Two people died on Interstate 25 in Douglas County when they were hit by an alleged DUI driver, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
At about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday a trooper responded to assist a motorist who was having “vehicle trouble” on northbound Interstate 25 near Castle Rock, according to a news release.
Four people were in the vehicle which was missing a tire and was parked on the shoulder of the roadway. Two people who were outside of the disabled vehicle were instructed by the trooper to “return to their vehicle and get back inside as a safety precaution,” the release said.
The trooper was walking away from the two people when a “car took over the shoulder” and struck the pair.
Both victims died at the scene, and the driver who hit them then hit a guardrail. That driver was taken to a local hospital and was later discharged.
The driver, a Castle Rock resident was arrested on investigation of two counts of vehicular homicide and booked into the Douglas County jail. The driver is suspected of being impaired at the time of the crash.
“Two lives ended due to one person’s choice to selfishly get behind the wheel while impaired,” said Colorado State Patrol Chief Matthew C. Packard in the release. “This tragedy is another example of people failing to act responsibly, failing to make a plan for a sober ride, and failing to drive within their designated lane. Five lives changed in the blink of an eye and it didn’t have to happen.”
Of the fatal crashes investigated by the state patrol this year from January through July, 21.6% were caused by a driver traveling outside of their designated lane and 18% were caused by a driver getting behind the wheel while under the influence, the release said.
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