PALISADE, Colo. — Patrick Sneddon, 59, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts of vehicular homicide – DUI and one felony count for violating Colorado’s Move Over law in connection with a deadly crash last year.
The September 4, 2024, accident on U.S. 6 between Palisade and Grand Junction claimed the lives of two Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) workers, Trent Umberger, 43, and Nathan Jones, 23, as well as passenger Kathi Wallace, 67, who was in the Jeep driven by Sneddon.
According to the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), the workers’ vehicle was parked off the road with safety lights and an arrow board activated. Umberger and Jones were wearing safety vests and were behind the truck removing a sign when Sneddon’s vehicle struck them.
Sneddon admitted to using CBD prior to the crash. He stated he was distracted by talking to his wife and noticed he was off the road but could not regain control despite attempting to swerve back.
Vehicle data showed Sneddon was traveling about 44 mph, below the 50 mph speed limit, slowing to 37 mph just before impact, with no evidence of hard braking. The arrow board’s lights were on at the time.
Jones had been a CDOT maintenance apprentice since December 2022 and was on track to complete his apprenticeship. Umberger had worked with CDOT since March 2017.
Sneddon’s sentencing is scheduled for October 9.
