Larimer County Creates ‘RAID’ Team to End Impaired Driving Fatalities

Larimer County is cracking down on drivers under the influence. A new Northern Colorado task force aims to Remove All Impaired Drivers (RAID). The Colorado Department of Transportation is funding a three-year grant, with $600,000 for the first year.

According to the Reporter-Harold, Kimberly Ferber, CDOT’s drug recognition expert state coordinator said, She expects that the three-year grant will be renewed, and hopes that the task force will become “the new model” for combating impaired driving statewide.

At a recent press conference, CDOT’s highway safety manager, Glenn Davis said “In 2019 so far, 413 people have been killed on Colorado roadways.” He added that of those fatalities, 28 percent were alcohol related.

Officers aren’t just looking for drunk drivers, driving under the influence of cannabis is equally their priority. The RAID team will be trained in how to spot impaired drivers and this will be their sole job. Along with patrols, the task force will also be doing education campaigns, and plans to work with the DA’s office, Ferber said.

I could go on to tell you about the horrific DUI related calls these officers have experienced, the fatalities and loss of children in our community, but just know this, Larimer county is dedicated to ending the senseless deaths on our roadways.

Three years ago on Thanksgiving day, Scott and Julie Nackos of Windsor lost their 19-year-old son, Kyle, who had recently graduated from Windsor High, when he was struck and killed in 2016 on I-25. His friend, who was a passenger in Kyle’s car, is still in a coma three years after the accident, the colliding driver was drunk and high.

Just as any grieving parent would, Julie Nackos said, “If we can make a difference to one family, we’ll keep telling our story.”

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