By Bianca Prieto
Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Copyright 2006 Denver Publishing Company
The driver of a Pridemark ambulance involved in a Boulder crash that killed a teenage girl last month will not be charged in the accident.
The decision not to charge 27- year-old Kevin Shepard came at a meeting last week between Boulder police investigators and the Boulder district attorney.
The May 1 accident killed 16- year-old Hannah Nicole Bauer Boemker, of Lafayette, after she turned in front of the ambulance that was responding to a reported structure fire that turned out to be a smoking barbecue grill.
Both drivers tried to avoid the crash but corrected in the same direction and collided, according to police.
The investigation found that Shepard was going about 41 mph, with full lights and sirens, in a 35 mph zone.
State law allows ambulances to travel up to 10 mph above the posted speed limit when emergency lights and sirens are on.
Boemker, who was driving a Honda Civic, turned in front of the ambulance that was heading south on 30th Street from Colorado Avenue. Investigators believe she had come to a complete stop at Euclid Avenue before turning left onto 30th Street.
The teen’s windows were rolled up at the time of the crash, and she may have been listening to the iPod that was found in her car after the crash, according to a police statement.
As a result of the crash, Boulder ambulances will no longer speed to a reported blaze unless an officer on scene determines it’s necessary or it’s to a 911 emergency medical call, the Daily Camera has reported.