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Witnesses: Driver Appeared Unconscious Before Deadly Crash

Two Women Killed, Boy Injured

POSTED: 5:51 pm MDT July 10, 2010
UPDATED: 6:16 pm MDT July 11, 2010

Witnesses say a 29-year-old driver appeared to be unconscious before his pickup plowed into the Greeley Mall on Saturday, killing two women and injuring a boy.

Greeley police Captain Juan Cruz said authorities were not identifying the driver yet, because he has not been charged. Cruz clarified that the pickup driver was a 29-year-old Evans man, not 19 as authorities initially reported.

The captain said it would take a few more days investigation before police, in consultation with the district attorney, decide if charges are warranted.

The Greeley Tribune reported Sunday that witnesses said it appeared the driver may have been unconscious behind the wheel just before the pickup smashes through a glass wall.

Witnesses and news reports said skid marks in the mall parking lot indicated the pickup just kept accelerating before it crashed into a mall shop. The truck's tires kept spinning after it was finally stopped by an interior wall.

Cruz said it looks like a medical episode or a mechanical problem with the truck could have been contributing factors. Cruz said neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected in the accident.

"It could be anything from a medical to a mechanical to who knows," Cruz said.

The accident happened at 2:30 p.m. when the white Chevrolet pickup truck drove from the parking lot through the storefront of Visionworks, located on the north side of the mall.

The women killed were identified as Kimberly Fletcher, 32, of Greeley and Jennifer Hudgens, 23, a University of Northern Colorado student from Pueblo, who worked in the store.

Fletcher's 9-year-old son was cut by flying glass and was treated at North Colorado Medical Center Saturday and released.

"That little boy lost his mom today," said witness Rebeka McClure of Greeley .

The driver was in stable condition at North Colorado Medical Center Saturday. Police had no update on his condition Sunday.

Java Time coffee shop owner Scott Bean, whose business is two doors down from Visionworks, said the pickup was traveling 30 to 40 miles per hour when it hit the building.

“There was a loud crash of breaking glass and metal,” Bean told the Tribune, “and billows of smoke came pouring out of the store.”

The smoke may have been generated as the truck's tired kept spinning after it was finally stopped by an interior store wall, the Tribune reported. Cruz said that indicates the driver's foot was still pressed on the accelerator, even after the truck stopped.

McClure said the truck didn't try to stop. She said there was no squealing of brakes or any signs that the driver tried to regain control of the vehicle.

"Pretty scary," McClure said. "Because you know people are in there and it’s not a garage, right? So, I was worried."

The truck missed hitting several brick pylons that flank the outskirt of the Vision Works storefront. The pylons are a safety factor to prevent such an accident from happening.

"Pillars outside, flag poles, light poles, none of that was damaged," McClure said. "Just the store. And that’s not an accident. I don’t think that’s an accident at all."
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