Now, after the better part of a month, Hosch has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide. We've got specifics about the accident, as well as Hosch's driving record, which has been extremely checkered over the past decade. See photos, video and more below.
Just after 10 a.m. on January 26, according to the First Judicial District Attorney's Office, Hosch, a resident of Golden, was driving southbound on Highway 93 in the vicinity of 68th Avenue -- and doing so as what court records characterize as a high rate of speed.Around that time, Hosch is said to have zoomed up behind a car traveling more slowly than his, then passed it in an "aggressive manner," albeit in a spot where the yellow center line is dashed -- meaning the maneuver was presumably legal.
Problem is, investigators believe Hosch didn't return to his lane after passing the other car. Instead, he allegedly stayed to the left of the yellow line for around 1,500 feet. Witnesses cited by 7News said this route took him well into a no-passing zone marked by double-yellow center lines.
An instant later, Hosch's car smashed into Baldwin, who was traveling northbound as part of his on-duty patrol of the area.The speed at which Hosch's vehicle was traveling is estimated at between 70 and 79 miles per hour. The speed limit for most of Highway 93 tops out at 55.
Baldwin died as a result of his injuries.
Afterward, Hosch, who was wearing a seat belt and suffered only minor injuries, reportedly claimed that he'd been in the proper lane and Baldwin had drifted into his path. But skid marks told a different story.
Weeks later, authorities arrested Hosch on suspicion of vehicular homicide and criminally negligent homicide -- the most serious driving-related charges leveled against him to date, but hardly the only ones. Here's a chronological roster of his citations over the past nine years as assembled by 7News:
• 2005: Issued a summons for traveling at 64 MPH in a 45 zone.Bond for Hosch was set at $10,000, and while he hasn't been officially charged at this point, he's already got his first court date, on March 6.• 2007: Issued a summons for traveling 65 MPH in a 40 zone -- a citation he plea-bargained down to a failure-to-signal offense.
• 2009: Issued a summons for traveling 72 MPH in a 55 zone.
• 2010: Issued a summons for traveling 57 MPH in a 45 zone and cited in a separate matter for rear-ending another vehicle. Both incidents took place on Highway 93.
• 2012: Issued a summons for traveling 52 MPH in a 35 zone.
• 2013: Issued a summons for rear-ending a trailer on Highway 93.
Here's a larger look at Hosch's mug shot, followed by a 7News report and our latest coverage.
Continue for our previous coverage of the fatal crash involving Kenneth Hosch and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Deputy Dave Baldwin, including photos and video. Original post, 5:50 a.m. January 27: How old is too old to drive?The answer to that question is different for every individual. But we suspect the age and acuity of 83-year-old Golden resident Kenneth Hosch, seen here in a photo from his Facebook page, will be a factor examined by investigators with the Colorado State Patrol looking into a tragic crash yesterday -- one that took the life of a thus-far-unidentified Jefferson County deputy.
Photos, video and details below.
At 10:05 a.m. on January 26, according to the CSP, the deputy was traveling in the left northbound lane of Highway 93, north of West 64th Parkway.
He was riding his Jefferson County Sheriff's Office-issued Harley Davidson amid a standard Sunday morning patrol, 7News reports.
As the deputy entered what's described as a sweeping curve, a southbound 2004 Saturn SUV attempted to negotiate this part of the roadway.However, the Saturn crossed the double-yellow lane.
The SUV is said to have passed at least one vehicle before crashing head-on into the deputy's Harley.
The impact threw the deputy off his bike, and despite his helmet and eye protection, he suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hosch, the Saturn's driver, suffered only minor injuries; he was wearing a seat belt. Nonetheless, he was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The CSP has already confirmed that Hosch wasn't operating his vehicle after consuming alcohol or drugs, and weather doesn't appear to have been a factor, either. While inclement weather entered the area later in the day, the conditions at the time of the accident were likely ideal.
At this point, charges against Hosch are said to be pending.
Look below to see a 7News piece about the crash. In the meantime, our condolences to the deputy's friends, family and loved ones.
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.
More from our Colorado Crimes archive circa May 2012: "Jeremy Bitner update: Private funeral for officer killed by drunk driver Conner Donohue."
