2 Families Mourn As Teen Suspect In Crash Appears In Court
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - A teenager appeared in court for an arraignment Monday morning, accused of causing a crash that left two dead in Centennial on Friday. Taden Jones left the courtroom in tears.
Two women died in the crash near Colorado Boulevard and Arapahoe Road in Centennial just before 4 p.m. Investigators believe Jones, 18, was driving a blue sedan when he crashed into two people riding in a silver car as they tried to pull onto a side street.
Friends and family confirm with CBS4 the two women killed were Gayle Buckwalter and Carolyn Burton.
One woman died at the scene after being ejected from the vehicle and the other woman died at the hospital.
A memorial at the crash site has been growing since the Friday. Friends and family say Buckwalter and Burton were the best of friends who were very active in their church and will be missed.
According to those who knew the victims, every Friday for years Buckwalter and Burton would go to lunch and then deliver Avon products.
"Every Friday they delivered Avon," Gayle's son Bill Buckwalter said. "They were quite the team."
Both were widowed and had multiple children and grandchildren. Bill Buckwalter says his 82-year-old mother had four children, 21 grandchildren, and more than 40 great-grandchildren.
"Between her church, music and her family, those were her loves," Bill Buckwalter said.
Nikki Hudson remembers her grandmother not only as one of the top-selling Avon ladies of Colorado, but as a faithful woman whose dinner table was always memorable.
"She loved to cook. She was born in Texas and raised a southern girl," Hudson said. "My grandmother was really into service and compassion, and I know that she would be the one to forgive ... and that's how I'm taking this."
Jones had two passengers in his car. One was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Jones appeared in court on charges of DUI and two counts of vehicular homicide. According to court papers he admitted to consuming three beers.
He left court after posting $50,000 bond but will have to return to court on Thursday for a formal advisement.
Authorities say it's just the beginning of what may be a long investigation.
Additional Information
The victims' families are asking that instead of flowers donations be made in their honor to the LDS Church Humanitarian Fund.
