Wheat Ridge, CO (March 13, 2025) — A woman was killed early Thursday morning in a violent crash caused by a suspected drunk driver traveling the wrong way on eastbound Interstate 70 near Ward Road. Police arrested 34-year-old Jian Bin Chen, who now faces several criminal charges, including vehicular homicide.
Incident Overview: The collision occurred around 5:15 a.m. when a westbound driver entered the eastbound lanes and struck another vehicle nearly head-on. Wheat Ridge police confirmed that one adult was pronounced dead at the scene. A young child in the same vehicle was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive.
Chen, the suspected wrong-way driver, was also hospitalized after the crash but has since been released and taken into custody. Police charged him with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, operating on the wrong side of a divided highway, and failing to provide proof of insurance.
A third driver struck debris from the wreck but was not physically injured. No additional vehicles were directly involved in the crash. Authorities are withholding the victim’s identity until the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office can notify her family.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Wheat Ridge Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, are actively investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash. Investigators will examine whether alcohol, cannabis, or other substances contributed to Chen’s impairment. They are also working to determine how and where he entered the wrong side of the highway and whether inadequate signage or poor visibility may have played a role.
Depending on the findings of the investigation, the deceased victim’s family may be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim, while the injured child may be entitled to pursue a personal injury claim. These civil claims often seek compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and the physical, emotional, and financial damages they have suffered as a result of the accident.
As the investigation continues, my thoughts remain with the victim’s loved ones and the injured child recovering in the hospital.
Source: Denver7 News