DENVER -- A Colorado State Patrol trooper was not sent to a car crash for nine minutes after it was called into a 911 center because a dispatcher was watching a Christmas movie, officials said Monday. In that time, the Mazda sedan that had struck a deer sat disabled in a lane of traffic, with no lights or flashers.

Before troopers arrived, a second driver approaching the disabled Mazda swerved to avoid it, but lost control and rolled into the center median, officials said. Heather Clinton, 20, and her brother, Earl "E.J." Clinton, 22 were ejected. Heather was killed.

Now, CSP officials are trying to determine if the second crash could have been prevented if the trooper had been dispatched earlier.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and are committed to a thorough and comprehensive internal investigation," said Col. James Wolfinbarger, chief of the CSP. "The thoughts and prayers of the Colorado State Patrol are with the Clinton family."

The first accident occurred at about 1:30 a.m. Dec. 17, on southbound Interstate 25 near Fountain. A passenger in the Mazda contacted CSP at 1:37 a.m. to report that the vehicle hit a deer and was disabled and blocking traffic.

Heather Clinton lost control of her Ford Explorer about 13 minutes later, at 1:50 a.m., CSP officials said. Heather, of San Manuel, Ariz., sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her brother, also of San Manuel, Ariz., sustained serious injuries and was transported to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs.

During the course of the initial investigation, the CSP discovered that a trooper was not dispatched to the initial accident for nine minutes after the passenger in the Mazda called the Pueblo Regional Communication Center. The trooper was dispatched at 1:46 a.m.

The internal investigation revealed that "one of the communication officers was watching a Christmas movie," Wolfinbarger said. "That may have been the thing that potentially that had distracted them."

Three members of the Pueblo Regional Communication Center have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

"We are proactively coming forward with this information because we are holders of the public trust," Wolfinbarger said. "It's important that we step forward even when the news isn’t good."

Anyone who may have witnessed this accident is asked to call the CSP at 719-248-8991.