Driver in fatal crash, chase facing possible murder charge

The woman accused of causing a fatal crash on South Boulder Road, stealing a vehicle and then leading police on a chase through Boulder is facing a possible murder charge.

Amanda Garcia, 34, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of first-degree murder — extreme indifference, vehicular homicide-reckless, vehicular homicide — DUI, vehicular assault — reckless, vehicular assault — DUI, first-degree assault, leaving the scene of fatal crash, leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, robbery, aggravated motor vehicle theft and vehicular eluding, according to Boulder County Jail records.

Those charges are not official until they are formally filed by the Boulder County District Attorney.

The incident started when Boulder County deputies were called to a head-on collision between Garcia and another vehicle at 68th Street and South Boulder Road at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Officials said one person was killed on the scene, while a passenger in Garcia’s sport utility vehicle was seriously injured.

The exact cause of that crash remains under investigation, but Colorado State Patrol officials said Garcia was believed to be intoxicated.

Following that crash, officials said Garcia stole a vehicle at the scene and evaded officers, eventually heading westbound on Arapahoe Avenue into the city of Boulder at a “high rate of speed.”

Boulder police said one attempt to stop the vehicle with stop sticks led to Garcia hitting another vehicle while avoiding capture. The driver of that car was not injured.

Boulder police said Garcia then went through at least two red lights before finally turning into a parking lot near 28th Street and Arapahoe Avenue, where officers were able to position their vehicles to pin her in.