Thousands Honor, Celebrate Life Of Fallen Trooper Cadet
LAFAYETTE, Colo. (CBS4)- Thousands of people lined the streets of the funeral procession and packed the church for was being called a "celebration of life" for Colorado State Patrol Trooper cadet hit and killed by a driver allegedly fleeing a traffic stop.
"There's so much they do for us, I thought this is the least that we can do for them," said David Qualos, who didn't know Thyfault but wanted to pay his respects.
They drove in a procession for Taylor Thyfault on Interstate 25 from Longmont, where Thyfault was killed Saturday, to the Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette for his memorial service Friday morning.
Friends, family and law enforcement from around the state remembered Thyfault as a young man who was always there to help others. Nearly 3,000 people filled the church for his funeral.
On one overpass on the route, a huge American flag was hung from the ladders of two fire trucks. Firefighters from Mountain View Fire Rescue and the Frederick Firestone Protection district stood at attention while the procession passed.
Thyfault, 21, was killed and Trooper Clinton Rushing was seriously injured while trying to put spikes in the road to stop a car being chased on Saturday.
He was on what was supposed to be the first of three ride alongs meant to give cadets an idea of a trooper's work on the road.
"This was supposed to be one of the greatest days of his life, to go out there, ride, see what he was hoping to accomplish and ultimately it still led to an act of heroism and valor," said Trooper Josh Lewis.
Thyfault, of Westminster, had just warned a tow truck driver to get out of the way when he was struck.
The driver speeding toward Thyfault had driven away from a traffic stop. Chris Gebers, 27, of Federal Heights, was arrested after the crash. He is facing charges of first-degree murder and vehicular homicide.
"This was a very selfless person, this was somebody willing to give his life and ultimately did in the service of his fellow man in order to save somebody else's life," said Lewis.
Thyfault was remembered as a leader, athlete and U.S. Army veteran.
The trooper who was with Thyfault, Clinton, couldn't attend the memorial service on Friday because he remains in critical condition.
Additional Resources
A GoFundMe fund has been set up to support Rushing in his recovery, and Thyfault 's family.