Cyclist Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver: Hundreds Attend Ghost Bike Dedication For Gwen Inglis
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) -- Hundreds gathered on Tuesday morning for ghost bike dedication for Gwen Erffmeyer Inglis, who was hit by a suspected drunk driver on Sunday morning in Lakewood.
Investigators Erffmeyer Inglis, 46, was riding in the bike lane when the vehicle drifted across the line and hit her. It happened on West Alameda Parkway, near the intersection at South Indiana Street.
The ghost bike dedication was held at the scene of the crash.
"It was so surreal to have my wife, my best friend, my stoker on my tandem not here anymore," said Michael Inglis, Gwen's husband.
Erffmeyer Inglis was well known in the Colorado cycling community and is remembered as a beautiful person, wife, friend and fierce competitor.
"She was magnificent; she was the epitome of the person we all want to be," said Megan Hottman. "She was a faith-filled woman, a devoted wife."
Hottman is an attorney representing the family. Hottman believes more needs to be done to keep cyclists safe.
"We need more than white paint; we need protected bike infrastructure. It takes money, and we need our city council members, our lawmakers, and our city planners to get behind spending the money," Hottman said.
"We've got a bike lane bill, we've got a vulnerable road user bill, we've got all these excellent laws that we've worked on as bike advocates, and we need to see them consistently enforced by our district attorneys," she added.
The man accused of hitting and killing Erffmeyer Inglis was identified as Ryan Montoya, 29. New court documents state he was returning from Central City where he had been the night before.
Officers say Montoya's mannerisms were slow and his eyes were droopy and bloodshot. Montoya told officers, according to the documents, he drank and used marijuana that night. He also admitted to using methamphetamine three days prior to the crash.
The suspect also told officers he slept six hours the night before. He was later arrested.
"It just hurts. Everything hurts, and it's really enraging, beyond enraging, that in the state of Colorado it seems like people get away with lots of DUI's," said Michael.