Colorado State trooper sentenced after serious Fort Collins crash

A Colorado State Patrol trooper was sentenced Monday for his role in a north Fort Collins crash that seriously injured four people in January.

The incident prompted investigation by Larimer County’s Critical Incident Response Team, during which investigators found Trooper Brian Pettit had been drinking during the day of the crash and was speeding at the time of the crash.

Pettit pleaded guilty to two counts of careless driving resulting in injury, a Class 1 traffic offense, in April. He was sentenced Monday to 24 months of unsupervised probation, 180 hours of community service and $1,000 in traffic fines.

Pettit, 40, reportedly sped through a stop sign at Giddings Road and Richards Lake Road, near the Anheuser Busch Brewery, and was broadsided by another car on his passenger side shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Jan 22, according to a letter released Wednesday by Larimer County District Attorney Cliff Riedel. Pettit was off-duty at the time of the crash, and his 9-year-old son was riding in the front passenger seat.

Pettit, his son and the two people in the other car — driver Steven Constant and passenger Susan Maffei — were hospitalized with serious injuries.

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Pettit had reportedly been drinking the day of the crash, and alcohol consumption was likely a contributing factor in the crash, Riedel wrote in the letter.

However, Riedel wrote, there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Pettit was legally driving under the influence when he crashed.

He was not tested for alcohol consumption at the scene of the crash, according to Fort Collins Police spokeswoman Kate Kimble. First responders did not detect any signs indicating Pettit had consumed alcohol, Riedel wrote.

Pettit was reportedly driving about 55 mph on Richards Lake Road, which has a posted speed limit of 40 mph. When he entered the intersection, he was traveling about 52 mph. He reportedly told investigators he was adjusting his radio when he saw the stop sign and realized he would be unable to stop.

All parties were transported to area hospitals and have since been released, according to FCPS.

Pettit, a trooper since January of 2012, was placed on paid administrative leave after the crash, according to CSP spokesman Nate Reid. Now that the investigation has concluded, Pettit will be restored to duty.

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