• 11
  • May
    2010

On the night of August 20 2009, a motorcyclist struck the back of Daniel Ogden's SUV, went into oncoming traffic, and was hit by another car. The motorcyclist died. Police claim Ogden's blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was at least .195. He is about to go on trial for felony vehicular homicide and DUI. If convicted, he could be facing four to twelve years in prison.

According to prosecutors, Daniel Ogden was driving his Nissan Xterra south along Lemay Avenue in Fort Collins just after 10 p.m. He turned left onto Mansfield Drive, which meant crossing traffic. Christopher Burnett, who was riding a black Yamaha motorcycle, struck the back of the SUV and was thrown into oncoming traffic, where he was struck by another driver and died at the scene. That driver is not charged in the case.

A central question appears to be whether Ogden or Burnett was responsible for causing the crash. According to police reports, witnesses said Burnett's motorcycle was speeding when it clipped the back of Ogden's SUV.

Ogden allegedly admitted to police that he had three beers at his brother's house before driving home. The police administered a blood test approximately 90 minutes after the crash, finding his blood-alcohol level to be more than twice the legal limit.

Ogden's attorney has proposed taking jurors to the scene of the crash so they can get a clearer sense how the events could have taken place. He would like jurors to "look and see this from Mr. Ogden's perspective," according to an interview with the Fort Collins Coloradoan. Although the request is unusual, Judge Stephen Schapanski agreed to consider it.

Jury selection for the vehicular homicide and DUI trial is set to begin today.

Related Resource:

"Man to stand trial this week for allegedly causing crash that killed motorcyclist" (Fort Collins Coloradoan, May 10, 2010)