Todd Kenneth Grudznske, DOB: 8-17-71, appeared today in Jefferson County District Court where he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the death of 25-year-old Angela Wimmer.
On September 30, 2018 Lakewood Police agents were called to the intersection of West Colfax Avenue and Kipling Street on September 30 to investigate a five-car traffic collision. Angela Wimmer, driving a gray Mazda, was sitting stopped at a red light on southbound Kipling at Colfax when a GMC truck, driven by Grudznske, failed to stop at the light and rear-ended the Mazda at a high rate of speed. There was eastbound traffic on Colfax and three additional vehicles were also involved in the collision.
Angela was transported to a hospital where she died of her injuries. Three other women were also injured.
Grudznske had been bar hopping that Sunday morning, going from bar to bar. When he left the 4th bar, he was driving 70 mph down Colfax in a 40 mph zone when he crashed into the traffic stopped at the light. His BAC was .341, over four times the legal limit.
He had six prior drunk driving convictions. He had been given numerous opportunities to address his drinking problem with sentences to probation and ordered alcohol education programs.
Following trial in July, Grudznske was found guilty of:
- First Degree Murder – Extreme Indifference (F1)
- Vehicular Homicide – DUI (F3)
- 3 counts of Attempted First Degree Assault (F4)
- DUI 4th or Subsequent (F4)
- 2 counts Careless Driving Resulting in Injury
“This is an appropriate sentence for a man who knowingly put others at risk. He essentially released a 7,000 lb. torpedo into a heavily populated residential and commercial area,” said DA Pete Weir, “He showed extreme indifference to the value of human life.”
