Driver In Deadly Denver Crash Sentenced To 72 Years In Prison

DENVER — The man who stole a Jeep and fled from police in June 2019, striking another car and killing two people, was convicted in Denver District Court and sentenced to serve 72 years in prison.

According to a news release from Denver District Court, Jeffrey D. Sloan, 37, was found guilty on all counts, including vehicular homicide, in August.

According to the release, Sloan stole a Jeep Liberty in June 2019 and fled from police at a high rate of speed. Going nearly twice the speed limit, Sloan ran a red light and struck a Honda Insight before running away on foot.

In the Honda were Yasir Hasan, 33, died at the scene of the crash, and Mark Karla, 45, who was seriously injured and later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Karla's wife told the court that his death continues to send shockwaves through his family and community.

“Mr. Sloan killed my husband,” Karla’s wife said. “Every week brings another conversation with our 4-year-old daughter about where her daddy is. … It is impossible to overstate the loss the community feels at these two senseless deaths.”

In a written statement, Hasan's brother echoed the words of Karla's wife.

“As a family, we try to support each other," he wrote. " We are trying to fill the empty spaces left behind, but we know that no one can fill his place. No one can erase the silence that haunts us or take away the pain from our bleeding hearts.”

District Attorney George Brauchler said Sloan "lived a life of crime," noting his longest crime-free streaks occurred only when he was imprisoned in Georgia and jailed before the Colorado homicide trial.

“This is a person who does not feel bound by the law. He wants to avoid responsibility for his conduct at every opportunity," Brauchler said. "This killer of two has lived a life of crime, and on top of that, this gutless coward tried to lie his way out of responsibility.”

All told, Sloan was convicted by a jury on two counts of Assault 1 extreme indifference, a third degree felony; leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a third degree felony; vehicular eluding-with death, a third degree felony; leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury, a fourth degree felony; vehicular eluding with injury, a fourth degree felony; and two counts of vehicular homicide reckless driving, fourth degree felonies.