Erie officers awarded for response to 3 crashes in less than 48 hours

The Town Council recognized seven Erie police officers Tuesday evening for their response to three tragic crashes that happened on the town’s roads in less than 48 hours in February.

Four of the officers responded to all three crashes, which in total claimed two lives and left two others seriously injured.

“This two-day time span was a traumatic, terrifying, and tragic time for the entire town,” Erie police Chief Lee Mathis said at Tuesday’s meeting, as several of the officers stood before the council. “These officers responded quickly, served honorably, and did their absolute best to bring order to the chaos while trying to save lives and comfort the grieving.”

Sgt. Brendan Beggan, Sgt. Cody Powers and officers Kevin Weed, Adam DeVito and Ian Bastres each received “Star Award” plaques and a standing ovation from residents in the audience. Officers Michael Cutrer and Robert Gentles were also recognized, but could not attend in person, Mathis said.

On Feb. 13, a young teenager riding an electric vehicle that resembled a dirt bike was struck by a car and seriously injured at Erie Parkway and Briggs Street. Early on Feb. 15, a Commerce City man died in a high-speed, single-car crash on Erie Parkway that caused the car to catch fire. The man’s 18-year-old passenger was critically injured.

That afternoon, a 2-year-old was found after being fatally struck by a vehicle that had left the scene. Seth Kirkegaard, 32, was arrested Friday on suspicion of a hit-and-run, after a nearly five-month-long investigation.

DeVito was one of the first officers to respond to all three crashes, Mathis said. In the early morning crash, DeVito pulled the 18-year-old driver out of a car that had crashed and caught fire on Erie Parkway in an attempt to save the man’s life. The man later died from his injuries.

For the same crash, Cutrer helped remove the critically injured passenger. The previous day, Cutrer had responded to another crash near Erie Parkway and Briggs Street that seriously injured a young teen riding an electric vehicle.

Weed stabilized that boy to prevent further injury, Mathis said.

Powers was the on-duty supervisor for two of the crashes. Beggan and officers Gentles and Bastres also responded to all three crashes and were part of the teams that investigated each crash.

“They are all true public servants deserving of special thanks and recognition from the town,” Mathis said.