BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. — A Colorado State Patrol cadet was killed and a trooper was critically injured during a crash investigation when another pursued vehicle part of a chase hit them on Highway 66 on Saturday morning.
After further investigation the man arrested as a suspect in this car chase and wreck, Christopher Lee Gebers, was found to have a lengthy criminal record.
Details of the accident
Officials attempted to stop a 2002 Honda Civic driven by a 27-year-old man, said Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis.
The driver was later identified as Christopher Lee Gebers and was arrested, according to Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeffrey Satur.
Gebers allegedly barreled through an accident scene and slammed into two Colorado State Patrol employees who tried stopping him.
The officers who were struck, were outside the vehicle trying to use stop sticks.
The injured trooper Clinton Rushing, age 37, was taken to the hospital with critical injuries and continues to recover in the hospital.
The cadet who died on the scene was a 21-year-old in training, Taylor Thyfault.
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Suspect driver has previous criminal history
According to investigators, Christopher Gebers has been in trouble with the law before for drug possession and weapons charges.
Christopher Lee Gebers has been arrested on 10 charges for this incident alone, according to Cmdr. Satur.
Those charges were first degree murder/extreme indifference, criminal attempt first degree murder/extreme indifference, first degree assault on a peace officer, vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. Gebers’ other charges include: eluding a police officer, driving a vehicle while license was cancelled or denied, and illegal use of blue lights.
He sustained minor injuries in the crash was treated and released from the hospital.
Gebers was taken into the custody of Boulder County Jail.
Salute to fallen State Patrol cadet
Taylor Thyfault was supposed to join the Pagosa Springs State Patrol division after graduation.
“Regardless of whether he has a badge on his chest or not it’s certainly a devastating loss,” said Trooper Josh Lewis.
Details surrounding Gebers’ run in are a bit blurry, but officers will be quick to point out Rushing and Thyfault did all they could do to try and stop him.
“This is essentially a line of duty death. Whether he [Thyfault] was an active police officer, he was doing his best to serve Colorado,” Trooper Lewis added.
Many honored the cadet remembering him on social media.