Drunk driver hits two police officers at accident scene in Colorado, killing one

A suspected drunken driver struck two police officers working at a crash scene on State Highway 58 in Colorado, killing one of them and seriously injuring the other, according to state officials. The driver was taken into custody.

The incident occurred just before 5 p.m. Wednesday as officers with the Golden Police Department were responding to a vehicle accident on State Highway 58, east of Washington Avenue in Golden, a city west of Denver.

According to a statement from the Colorado State Patrol, three officers were involved in the incident, which occurred on a section of curved overpass. No one was injured in the first accident.

“One officer was stationed in a patrol car outside the scene of the accident and two other officers were tending to the scene when a passing vehicle drove into the scene,” police said. “Both officers at the original accident scene were struck and forced under the original crashed vehicle.”

One of the officers, a 33-year-old man who had previously served in the military and flown Black Hawk helicopters, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second officer, who was only a woman, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The name of the fallen officer was not immediately released.

“He's an amazing human being, he had a long, distinguished career in the military, flying Black Hawk helicopters and serving as a commander,” Golden Police Chief Joe Harvey said as he ran out of breath during a briefing.

The driver of the vehicle that struck the officers was arrested at the scene on suspicion of impaired driving. The driver's name was not immediately released. According to the Denver Post, the driver was probably under the influence of alcohol.

The Colorado State Patrol Vehicle Crimes Unit is investigating Wednesday's fatal crash.