Mother seeks accountability after Glenwood Springs crash that killed 23-year-old construction worker

A 23-year-old man was killed Aug. 11 after being struck by a vehicle while working along U.S. Highway 6 near Glenwood Springs, and his mother is calling for tougher distracted driving laws as the driver faces a misdemeanor charge.

According to an affidavit filed by the Glenwood Springs Police Department, Madison Burke, 39, was driving a gray Toyota RAV4 when she struck a road sign trailer at mile marker 115 on Interstate 70’s frontage road just after 8 a.m. The crash killed Derrik “DC” Romero-Evans, who was working with a crew from WS Barricade at the time.

Burke is charged with careless driving resulting in death, which is currently classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado. In the affidavit, Officer Jacob Braaksma wrote that Burke told him she “had only looked down at [her] maps for a second” and did not see the work truck, trailers or workers in reflective gear before the collision. Police noted there were no signs of impairment and that Burke said she had been sober for six years.

Burke was arrested following the crash but later bonded out of the Garfield County Jail.

Romero-Evans was transported to Valley View Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

His mother, Stephanie Wilken, said she is devastated not only by her son’s death but also by what she sees as a lack of accountability.

“I think it’s 100% a slap in the face to all families that our laws allow Madison Burke to face a misdemeanor charge for such a careless, violent way to go,” Wilken said. “We have to do something about these laws. It’s a travesty that somebody can be a distracted driver, kill someone with their vehicle, and still face a misdemeanor.”

According to the affidavit, officers found Romero-Evans at the bottom of a retaining wall in a recovery position and attempted to turn him over to begin CPR. They reported he was bleeding from the mouth and appeared to be choking, so he was returned to his side until paramedics arrived.

Wilken said she also feels frustrated by what she described as limited media coverage and a lack of urgency from law enforcement.

“It feels like my son’s life wasn’t that big of a deal,” she said. “The Glenwood Springs Police Department did not feel that this was a matter that needed to be alerted to the media. That feels like another slap in the face.”

Glenwood Springs Police Department Executive Specialist Wendy Bautista said Thursday the media was not notified of the incident because the department was short-staffed and there was no ongoing public safety concern after Burke’s arrest.

Romero-Evans lived between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction and had worked for WS Barricade for nearly two years. Previously, he worked at Qdoba, rising from a clerk position to acting general manager by age 21.

“He was the most beautiful soul you’ve ever met,” Wilken said. “People described him as light, kind, respectful, even-keeled. He always made people feel seen.”

A celebration of life was held Aug. 23 in Montrose, which Wilken said was filled to capacity, with people spilling outside.

“The diversity in that room, the love in that room — it represented who he was,” she said.

Burke’s next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16 in Garfield County District Court.