Woman sentenced to decades in prison for I-25 DUI crash that killed 2
DENVER (KDVR) — A woman who crashed into a mother and son on the side of Interstate 25 in October 2022, killing the pair, was sentenced on Wednesday to serve over two decades in prison for the crime.
Amber Villarreal and her son, Elijah, 18, were changing a tire on the shoulder of the northbound lanes of I-25 near milepost 182 on the night of Oct. 12, 2022. A Colorado state trooper was at the scene and had his emergency lights activated while parked behind the disabled vehicle.
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That’s when investigators say a drunk driver crashed into them, killing the mother and son.
“This defendant’s actions have permanently torn apart a family,” said 18th Judicial District Attorney Senior Deputy Corrie Caler in a release. “This preventable tragedy took the life of a beloved mother, wife, and grandmother, along with her 18-year-old son who was just beginning his life.”
The driver that killed the Villarreals was identified as Michelle Branch, 49. She was sentenced on Wednesday to serve 21 and a half years in the Department of Corrections on two counts of vehicular homicide/DUI and one count of failure to exercise caution/yield the right of way to emergency stationary vehicles causing death. She had previously pleaded guilty to all three charges.
Branch will also be required to pay $20,000 in restitution for the DUI crash.
According to the 18th DA’s Office, Branch initially told state troopers that she “did not realize she was in a crash,” and troopers noticed the scent of alcohol on her breath. When questioned further, Branch admitted to drinking before driving.
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“While no sentence can eliminate the pain and grief the Villarreal family is going through, I sincerely hope it provides some closure and justice for them,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Garrik Storgaard. “This defendant had no business being on the road that night after drinking.”
According to law enforcement, Branch consented to a roadside test and failed. A blood draw at a hospital showed Branch’s blood alcohol level was .13 — the state’s legal limit for driving under the influence is .08, and the limit for driving while impaired is .05.
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