During an April 3 preliminary hearing, an analysis by the Colorado State Patrol indicated that on Dec. 13, 26-year-old Janeen Black was driving westbound on County Road G in a Chrysler Pacifica at least 80 mph when she crossed a double yellow line in a curve, striking a Nissan Sentra head-on.
Drivers of the Sentra, Yvonne Padilla, 40, and Gerald Padilla, 36, were killed. Three other victims were seriously injured, including a 15-year-old who suffered a pelvic fracture; a 22-year-old who suffered sternal and rib fractures; and a 28-year-old who suffered a broken leg.
A witness recalled Black “swerving all over the road” before the crash, and a keg of beer was found in the burned-out Pacifica.
Public defender Kenneth Pace requested on April 21 that chief district court judge Doug Walker grant a continuance to give law enforcement time to collect additional evidence: pajamas that a witness said the Pacifica passenger was wearing.
Pace said the pajamas prove Black was a passenger, not a driver.
“The witness on the scene of the accident said the passenger pulled out of the car was wearing pajamas ... clothes were taken off Ms. Black at the hospital when she was being treated for injuries and instead of being bagged as evidence they were given to her family to take home,” Pace argued.
Assistant district attorney Sean Murray objected to the continuance, citing a section of the Victim’s Rights Act.
Despite the objection, Judge Walker granted the motion for continuance.
“I usually give everybody at least one shot; I’ll give you until May 7,” said Walker.
Black is bound over on four counts of vehicular homicide, six counts of vehicular assault, DUI and compulsory insurance charges.
