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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — A nearly three-year-old blood stain may prove pivotal for a man accused in a deadly 2006 traffic accident on Interstate 70.
District Judge Richard Gurley on Thursday granted a 60-day delay for forensic testing in the case of 26-year-old Jade Huskey, a Fruita resident who’s charged with several felonies, including vehicular homicide, in the alleged drunk driving death of 35-year-old Molly Gomez of Grand Junction.
The judge’s decision to continue the case Thursday came at the request of Huskey’s attorney, Gordon Gallagher. The attorney hopes testing to be performed on a smattering of blood found on the driver-side interior of a 2005 Ford Mustang will prove the defense’s main claim in the case: Huskey wasn’t driving.
Gallagher said it’s unclear if the blood stain can yield a viable testing sample, much less DNA. The mangled Ford Mustang has remained impounded and exposed to the elements outdoors since the February 2006 accident, Gallagher said.
Huskey is charged with vehicular homicide, criminally negligent homicide, DUI and reckless driving, as the alleged driver of a Ford Mustang that careened off Interstate 70 at speeds estimated around 100 mph in February 2006.
The car drifted off the road before the driver overcorrected, causing the car to spin and hit a guardrail.
Both Huskey and Gomez were ejected.
Huskey allegedly told Colorado State Patrol troopers he was intoxicated and couldn’t recall much about the crash.
Huskey was charged in January 2007 largely on the strength of a video recording and Huskey’s injuries from the accident. Huskey and Gomez are on tape the night of the accident purchasing liquor at a store in Fruita. Huskey’s allegedly seen getting in and out of the Mustang’s driver side.
Huskey also suffered a pelvic fracture during the accident. Prosecutors say that’s consistent with impact with a steering wheel.
Prosecutors also argue the position of the driver-side seat in the Mustang was a better match for Huskey’s height and body frame.
Huskey is free on bond.
Gurley on Thursday set a plea hearing in Huskey’s case in January.
Reach Paul Shockley at pshockley@gjfreepress.com
District Judge Richard Gurley on Thursday granted a 60-day delay for forensic testing in the case of 26-year-old Jade Huskey, a Fruita resident who’s charged with several felonies, including vehicular homicide, in the alleged drunk driving death of 35-year-old Molly Gomez of Grand Junction.
The judge’s decision to continue the case Thursday came at the request of Huskey’s attorney, Gordon Gallagher. The attorney hopes testing to be performed on a smattering of blood found on the driver-side interior of a 2005 Ford Mustang will prove the defense’s main claim in the case: Huskey wasn’t driving.
Gallagher said it’s unclear if the blood stain can yield a viable testing sample, much less DNA. The mangled Ford Mustang has remained impounded and exposed to the elements outdoors since the February 2006 accident, Gallagher said.
Huskey is charged with vehicular homicide, criminally negligent homicide, DUI and reckless driving, as the alleged driver of a Ford Mustang that careened off Interstate 70 at speeds estimated around 100 mph in February 2006.
The car drifted off the road before the driver overcorrected, causing the car to spin and hit a guardrail.
Both Huskey and Gomez were ejected.
Huskey allegedly told Colorado State Patrol troopers he was intoxicated and couldn’t recall much about the crash.
Huskey was charged in January 2007 largely on the strength of a video recording and Huskey’s injuries from the accident. Huskey and Gomez are on tape the night of the accident purchasing liquor at a store in Fruita. Huskey’s allegedly seen getting in and out of the Mustang’s driver side.
Huskey also suffered a pelvic fracture during the accident. Prosecutors say that’s consistent with impact with a steering wheel.
Prosecutors also argue the position of the driver-side seat in the Mustang was a better match for Huskey’s height and body frame.
Huskey is free on bond.
Gurley on Thursday set a plea hearing in Huskey’s case in January.
Reach Paul Shockley at pshockley@gjfreepress.com
