DENVER (KDVR) — An arrest affidavit is shedding new light on a deadly wrong-way crash with a suspected DUI driver that closed Interstate 70 in Wheat Ridge for hours on Thursday.
The affidavit details how officers found the scene on eastbound I-70 near the Ward Road ramps. A Ford Escape was found facing north in the dirt between the off-ramp and on-ramp, and had significant front end damage.
A Lexus RX350 was facing east on the north shoulder of I-70, just west of the off-ramp at Ward Road. The Lexus was described as having extensive damage on the front driver's side of the vehicle, extending back toward the front driver's side door.
The Jefferson County Coroner's Office identified the driver of the Ford Escape as Jody Weber, 36, of Lakewood. She was found dead in the backseat of the car. Police said it appeared she hadn't been wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Her two-year-old son was found in a car seat in the backseat with scrapes and bruises, but no substantial injuries, according to the court document.
Her husband spoke to FOX31 after the suspect in the case appeared in court on Friday. He said their son is physically fine and has been released from the hospital, but emotionally still healing.
"He's looking for momma, you know, he wants to know where his momma is," said Steven Chavez through tears on Friday. "Every time someone knocks on the door, every time he hears his mom's phone ring, he thinks it's her. He doesn't understand. It's really hard for him."
The affidavit described how an officer arrived on scene and saw the suspect in the crash, Jian Bin Chen, 34, exit the Lexus through the front passenger door. After the officer set up cones and flares around the area to curb any further traffic concerns, he saw that Chen had opened the driver-side rear door of the patrol vehicle and entered voluntarily.
The officer also reported difficulty communicating with Chen, who said his English was not very good, according to the arrest affidavit. However, the officer allegedly noticed a strong odor of alcohol "emanating from his mouth," also saw the suspect's eyes were bloodshot and he seemed to struggle to keep his balance.
“DUIs are entirely preventable and we’re a jurisdiction that dealt with a 62% increase in DUI crashes last year in 2024,” Wheat Ridge Public Information Officer Alex Rose told FOX31 on Thursday. “We can control the enforcement, it continues to be frustrating that we can’t control the behavior of people behind the wheel.”
Man arrested, accused of repeatedly ramming car into Boulder Police vehicleChen told a firefighter who medically evaluated him for injuries that he believed he was in Oklahoma (where his driver's license is from), and the firefighter noted the odor of alcohol on his breath. Chen was transported to a hospital where he was subject to two blood draws, the results of which are pending. The suspect reportedly told medical officials that he wanted to speak to a lawyer.
A witness told officers that the silver SUV was braking and swerving into the three lanes and right shoulder, and traveling slower than the speed limit. They both exited I-70 at Kipling Street, and turned south. The silver SUV then turned into the I-70 east exit ramp and re-entered the highway, going the wrong way.
Another witness told officers that at about 5:10 a.m. he had to dodge out of the way of the SUV, and said the vehicle was going around 40 to 50 mph.
Chen is facing charges of negligent manslaughter, vehicular homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving a vehicle on the wrong side of a divided highway and failure to present evidence of insurance.
A GoFundMe has been established to fund funeral arrangements for Weber.
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