An Elbert County jury determined late Friday that the man who caused a car crash that killed a 6-year-old girl is responsible for her death.
Gary Wayne Williams, 70, of Parker was found guilty April 23 of four felonies in the crash that killed Reagan Purdy.
Williams was driving his Toyota 4Runner westbound on I-70 in Elbert County on Nov. 18, 2018. He was pulling a trailer and lost control. He ended up facing eastbound in the westbound lanes. He drove the wrong way on the interstate for 3 miles and T-boned a Toyota Tundra that was veering off the road to avoid being hit by the wrong-way 4Runner. Reagan was in the rear seat of the Tundra. Reagan’s father was driving the Tundra and was seriously injured but survived.
“This defendant knowingly and recklessly drove his truck the wrong way on the interstate for 3 miles,” said District Attorney John Kellner. “If not for this defendant’s willful actions and reckless choices, young Reagan Purdy would still be alive. This verdict is the consequence.”
The jury convicted Williams of:
• Child abuse causing death, a Class 2 felony (F2)
• First-degree assault, F3
• Vehicular homicide, F4
• Vehicular assault, F5
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Meghan Gallo and Chief Deputy District Attorney Eva Wilson.
Sentencing is set for June 8. The presumptive sentencing range for a Class 2 felony is 8-24 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. The sentence enhancers in this case push the range to 16-48 years.
