LONGER LABOR DAY DUI CRACKDOWN NETS BIG NUMBERS
Denver—Nearly one thousand drunk or stoned drivers were busted in Colorado during the extended Labor Day “Heat is On Campaign.” According to the final tally from the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado State Patrol, 964 impaired drivers caught between August 19th and September 6th. State Patrol Chief Colonel Scott Hernandez says the Labor Day emphasis is due to last year’s surge in alcohol-related traffic deaths during that time period. He says one-fourth of all alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2015 occurred in August and September.
BASALT ROLLOVER INJURES LOCAL WOMAN
Basalt—A Basalt woman is lucky to be alive after rolling her SUV down a steep, heavily wooded embankment yesterday afternoon. According to reports from the Basalt Police Department, the woman was heading down Wilderness Road in a Honda Pilot when she went over the curb and down the hill. The SUV rolled over two times and crashed into a thick grove of trees. Authorities say construction workers nearby heard the crash and called 9-1-1. The woman, who’s name has not been released, was not wearing a seat belt and had to be freed from passenger seat of the vehicle with power equipment. Officials say her injuries are not life threatening.
MESA COUNTY CASEWORKERS SUED OVER CHILD’S DEATH
Grand Junction—The grandfather of 11-month old Angel Place blames her death on four Mesa County child-protection workers. The man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in connection with the September 2014 death of the little girl. Angel died from blunt-force head injuries some two months after being placed in the care of her aunt and uncle. The lawsuit says the Mesa County caseworkers should not have taken Angel out of her loving foster home. Angel’s aunt is serving a 30 year prison sentence for the death of her niece.
