Man with six DUI convictions accused of vehicular homicide

A man with six prior drunkendriving convictions who was forbidden by a judge in a domestic violence case from drinking alcohol was allegedly drunk late last month when he plowed his pickup truck into a car from behind, propelling a 25yearold driver into traffic and to her death.

Todd Kenneth Grudznske, 47, is scheduled to appear in Jefferson County Court for formal charges on Thursday in the Sept. 30 death of 25yearold Angela Wimmer of Lakewood.

Grudznske is being held for investigation on a long list of charges including vehicular homicide, violation of a protection order and drunken driving.

District Attorney Pete Weir’s office will determine which charges to file against Grudznske.

Wimmer, who had been driving her gray Mazda sedan south on Kipling Street, was stopped for a red light at West Colfax Avenue at about 12:45 p.m. on Sept. 30.

Police allege that Grudznke was alternately swerving his GMC pickup truck into a bike path and oncoming lanes at high speed before he hit the back of Wimmer’s car, hurling her vehicle into the path of three cars and causing a fivevehicle crash.

Grudznske escaped major injury, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

A traffic investigation revealed that there were no GMC skids on the road where the crash happened that would have indicated Grudznske was braking. He told officers that he hadn’t been drinking alco hol since the day before. But traffic cameras in the area revealed Grudznske had been at Misfits Sports Bar & Grill shortly before the crash, according to police.

A witness said it appeared that Grudznske, of Lakewood, was trying to beat the red light when the crash happened.

Grudznske’s Colorado Bureau of Investigation records reveal a long trail of arrests for assaults, drunken driving and domestic violence dating back to March 27, 2000, when Broomfield police arrested him on a charge of drunken driving.

He also had several assault and domestic violence arrests during the past 18 years. The longest he ever served in jail was five months, according to CBI records.