53 year old Amy Weiss of Timnath, CO, a math and science teacher at Lesher Middle School, has been charged with Careless Driving Resulting in Death (Traffic M1) and Tampering with Physical Evidence (M1) in the August 2nd crash that killed 10-year-old Oliver Stratton.
Just before 6 p.m. on August 2, 2023, Weiss, who was driving a 2019 Audi SUV was traveling eastbound on River Pass Road and hit Stratton, who was traveling south on Saddle Horn Drive. It was originally reported, presumably by Weiss, that Statton had “turned abruptly” in front of her off of River Pass Road to head south on Saddle Horn Drive. That narrative changed when the family protested, stating that he wouldn’t have been coming from that direction on his way home from a friend’s house. The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office’s Collision Reconstruction and Scene Handling (C.R.A.S.H.) team’s investigation showed “several environmental factors impacted visibility for both the driver and the cyclist. They also found evidence of distracted driving.”
On September 15th, the speed limit on River Pass Road was lowered from 40mph to 35mph after community pressure and a study conducted by traffic engineering firm Next Phase. More changes are possible once the study is complete.
Larimer County Sheriff's Office Press Release
The driver in a fatal auto-bicycle collision will face charges after investigators found evidence of distracted driving.
Just before 6 p.m. on August 2, 2023, Dispatch received a report of a crash at an intersection in a Timnath neighborhood. A 2019 Audi SUV was traveling eastbound on River Pass Road and hit a cyclist traveling south on Saddle Horn Drive. The cyclist, identified as Oliver Stratton, 10, of Timnath, sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital. Sadly, he did not survive. The driver, Amy Weiss (DOB 7/1/70), of Timnath, was not injured.
Due to the resource-intensive nature of the crash, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation. LCSO investigators and Collision Reconstruction and Scene Handling (C.R.A.S.H.) team worked to reconstruct the collision and determine what factors influenced the incident. Evidence gathered during the investigation showed that several environmental factors impacted visibility for both the driver and the cyclist. They also found evidence of distracted driving.
Investigators presented the case to the District Attorney’s Office, who determined that the following charges would be filed against Weiss:
- Careless Driving Resulting in Death (Traffic M1)
- Tampering with Physical Evidence (M1)
A summons was issued on Friday, October 6.
“Condolences feel hollow when a child dies, and words can’t begin to express the depth of our sadness for this family and all who loved Ollie,” said Sheriff John Feyen. “We ask everyone to remember this young man through your actions – minimize distractions when driving, actively look for pedestrians and cyclists, and talk to your family and friends about doing the same. It’s up to all of us to honor Ollie’s memory and do everything we can to prevent another tragedy like this in our community.”
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Timnath Police Department, Windsor Police Department, and Fort Collins Police Services for assisting with this investigation, as well as the District Attorney’s Office and Larimer County Coroner for their work in this case. The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
Original Timnath Police Department Statement
August 7th Update:
At approximately 6 p.m. on August 2, at the intersection of River Pass Road and Saddle Horn Drive, there was an accident involving a bicycle and a vehicle. The cyclist was traveling south on Saddlehorn and was crossing River Pass Road when the collision occurred with a vehicle traveling eastbound. The cyclist, a 10-year-old boy, suffered serious injuries and was transported to Children’s Hospital in Denver but sadly, did not survive. The Larimer County CRASH team is handling the investigation.
August 6th Post:
At approximately 6 p.m. on August 2, at the intersection of River Pass Road and Saddle Horn Drive, there was an accident involving a bicycle and a vehicle. The cyclist was traveling westbound on River Pass and abruptly turned left in front of the oncoming car; the vehicle was traveling eastbound at the time of the collision. The cyclist, a 10-year-old boy, suffered serious injuries and is being treated at Children’s Hospital in Denver. The Larimer County CRASH team is handling the investigation.
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