Driver In Rollover Wreck That Killed Teen Appears In Court

GOLDEN, CO – A driver accused in a rollover mountain crash that killed a 16-year-old Evergreen girl is scheduled for a court hearing Monday in Jefferson County District Court.

Daltyn D. Hollon, 21, is accused of vehicular homicide, assault and other traffic offenses for the accident Jan. 20, 2018 on Hwy. 74 that killed Rachel Hern, 16 of Evergreen.

UPDATE: 4 Years For Driver In Rollover Wreck That Killed Evergreen Teen

Hollon was the driver of a 2000 Chevy Cavalier, later found to have almost inoperative breaks, that was involved in the single-car accident. Hollon told Colorado State Patrol deputies that he, Hern and two other friends were on a trip to Wal­mart to get some CO2 cartridges for a paintball gun around 7:20 p.m., according to an affidavit. The Cavalier was traveling westbound approaching Divide View Road, when it lost control around a curve and spun 180 degrees. The car slid across the highway, flipped over the center median and crossed into the eastbound lanes continuing to rotate until it hit a concrete barrier.

Related: Mother Of Evergreen Teen Killed In Rollover Wreck Urges Seatbelts

Hern and the other backseat passenger, a 19-year-old male, were not wearing seat belts, the police affidavit said. The two were ejected out the back window. Both were seriously injured and taken to Saint Anthony Hospital in Lakewood. Hern died a few days later. Another passenger, a 33-year-old man, was also ejected from the car, but had minor injuries. Hollon had injuries also. Alcohol and drugs were not suspected as factors in the accident.

Witnesses told Colorado State Patrol investigators that the Chevrolet Cavalier had passed aggressively and cut between their vehicle and a second vehicle, with a very short distance between them. The driver told police the Cavalier's speed may have been 80 mph. The posted speed limit just before the curve was 40 mph., dropped from 55 mph. on the highway, the arrest affidavit said.

Hollon told CSP investigators that his front brakes were "gone," and said that "the pad [was] half-way through the metal." He acknowledged the car was "not safe to be driving," but said the brakes "still stopped the car." The 33-year-old passenger, who was not seriously injured, told police he thought Hollon may have been speeding up to 100 mph.

Hollon denied he had been speeding, and told investigators he knew the highway well because he worked for his father's snowplow business and frequently drove that road, the affidavit said.

According to his Twitter feed, Hollon resides in Littleton.

Hern had been a student at Evergreen High School and had attended Wilmot Elementary, Evergreen Middle School and Conifer High School, the Canyon Courier reported. “Our hearts are with the student’s family during this very painful time," Evergreen High Principal Brandon Brekke wrote in a letter to parents. "In speaking with the family today, they asked us to remind everyone to drive safely and wear seat belts. We urge you to please utilize caution in your daily travels, especially during the winter months.”

Rachel was one of three children of RaeAnn and Don Hern. In a GoFundMe account, set up by family friends, RaeAnn remembered Rachel as a girl with "a heart of gold," the site said. "She made sure to make others feel good and stuck up to all of the bullies in school!”

Hollon was arrested March 7. He appears in court Monday in Golden.

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