Fatal accident clean-up interrupted by DUI arrest

BY FREDA MIKLIN

On June 3 at 6:07 p.m., Greenwood Village police (GVPD) received numerous 9-1-1 calls about a multi-vehicle accident on northbound I-25 just past the Arapahoe Road exit. Seven vehicles were involved including two motorcycles. One of the motorcyclists was declared deceased at the scene and the other one passed away in the hospital the following day. GVPD is still completing its investigation of the accident and has not released any further information.

I-25 northbound was closed from Dry Creek Road to Orchard Road for several hours to allow GVPD officers to process the seven-vehicle fatal crash. While they were doing so, at approximately 8:30 p.m., they noticed a dark-colored Chevrolet driving directly toward the accident scene. Multiple police vehicles with red and blue lights flashing were all around. It is unknown how the driver was able to access the interstate since it was fully closed. When officers contacted the male driver of the Chevrolet, he identified himself as a police officer with the Denver Police Department. GVPD officers recognized signs of intoxication and began the process of a DUI investigation. They soon discovered that the driver was in possession of a handgun while intoxicated and open containers of alcohol were inside the car, which turned out to be an unmarked Denver Police vehicle. After completing their investigation, GVPD arrested Denver Police Sergeant Bryce Robert Jackson on charges of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Prohibited Use of Weapons, Careless Driving, and Open Alcoholic Container in a Motor Vehicle. Jackson was booked into the Arapahoe County Detention Center and GVPD resumed their investigation of the fatal accident.

Michael Howanitz’s 18- year old son Christian was driving one of the vehicles involved in the accident. Christian, who recently graduated from high school in Boulder and is going to play junior hockey, did not sustain any physical injuries but he “saw things an 18-year-old should not have to see,” his father told us (the motorcyclist who did not survive the impact). Howanitz explained that the accident occurred when a vehicle became disabled in the left lane on I-25 and the first two cars that came up behind it were able to stop, including the one Christian Howanitz was driving, but the third car was not able to stop, resulting in the high-speed crash and pile-up of five cars and two motorcycles.

What Howanitz most wanted to share with The Villager was that “the level of professionalism, caring, kindness, and dignity for injured people and others that was shown by the Greenwood Village police officers was exemplary. I could not be more appreciative.” He was particularly complimentary of GVPD Officer Cristy Floerchinger, who was a lead officer at the accident scene. This father was especially grateful that police officers, despite dealing with a chaotic situation, were calm and thoughtful enough to immediately get someone to take his son away from the horrific site of the accident and stay with him.

Fmiklin.villager@gmail. com