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DUI victims' families back bail hike

Man drove drunk, led cops on chase a month before killing 2 on I-70

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 2, 2008 at 8:43 p.m.
Updated April 2, 2008 at 11:53 p.m.

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Patrick Strawmatt

Patrick Strawmatt

Liane VonFeldt, center, mother of Jennifer Kois, who was killed by a drunken driver, hugs Monica Sangster at the state Capitol on Wednesday. She and husband Peter VonFeldt, left, appeared in support of a bill requiring higher bail in some DUI arrests.

Photo by Linda Mcconnell / Special To The Rocky

Liane VonFeldt, center, mother of Jennifer Kois, who was killed by a drunken driver, hugs Monica Sangster at the state Capitol on Wednesday. She and husband Peter VonFeldt, left, appeared in support of a bill requiring higher bail in some DUI arrests.

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The parents of two college students killed by a drunken driver who was fleeing police watched in agony Wednesday as a legislative committee debated a bill that would require higher bail in some arrests.

Despite concerns that the legislature should not dictate bond amounts to judges, the House Judiciary Committee narrowly approved the measure 5-4.

House Bill 1377, by Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, would set bail at $50,000 for anyone arrested on DUI charges after eluding police. The court can make an exception if it finds that the person is not a threat to the community.

Much of the testimony centered on a 2007 case in which Mesa State College sweethearts, Jake Brock, of Eagle, and Jennifer Kois, of Brighton, were killed on Interstate 70 in Mesa County.

Their car was hit by a vehicle driven by Patrick Strawmatt, who was driving drunk and fleeing police. A month earlier, the Park County sheriff had arrested Strawmatt on drunken-driving charges following a chase.

Park County Deputy District Attorney Martin Kenney had argued that Strawmatt, a former police officer, was a danger to others. But Magistrate Larry Allen released him on $15,000 bail the next day.

"I don't want this legislation to be sympathy legislation," Brock's father, Vern, told the committee. "I want it to have purpose."

Kois' stepfather, Peter VonFeldt, also urged lawmakers to pass the measure.

"Once you step on the gas, once you try to elude a police officer, you have sufficiently proven yourself to be a person who can commit murder, a person who can harm," he said.

Afterward, the families talked about the dismay they felt when it looked as if the bill might die. "I was really worried," said a teary-eyed Marilyn Brock.

The bill was sent to the full House for a hearing.

Strawmatt pleaded guilty last year to vehicular assault and eluding and was sentenced to 72 years in prison.

bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327

Comments

  • April 2, 2008

    10:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    happymike44 writes:

    I was driving home in 1994 and was hit by a drunk driver.She was a illegal mexican alien.No insurance,no license,no registration me I suffered a neck injury that to this day keeps mein pain.She was drunk and fled the scene.Her family drove her to the bus station and she got on a bus.She has since returned to mexico,me my insurance went up.Then found out that my uninsured motorist was all but useless.I lost my car and my job.Then I was forced to work 60 hours a week for 4 years so I could save enough money for a car.While riding a bike to work the whole time.If you drink and drive and you kill someone you should get the death penalty.To all those party animals out there,if you want to drink move closer to your favorite watering hole.Like right across the street from the pub,bar,saloon of your choice.This would save more lives and cut down on your threat to the rest of us.One judge ordered a repeat offender to live right next door to his favorite bar.This one sounds good to me.My latest accident was a women in a jumbo suburban who hit me while talking on the phone.She was furious that I thought she should pay my damages, also she was reading a map when she hit me from behind.The lawyer has since reached an agreement over this and my medical will be paid and my car fixed and some compensation for my trouble.They should outlaw talking on the cell and driving as well.

  • April 3, 2008

    9:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    happymike44,

    I was under the impression that the insurance racket could NOT increase your rates when it was the other guy's (drunk's) fault. What am I missing here? Also, tell us who your insurance company was.

    Scott