GOLDEN, Colo. (Apr. 27, 2026) – On Friday, Cesar Hernandez-Sanchez was sentenced to 14 years in the Department of Corrections for an October 2025 DUI crash that killed Michael Smith and severely injured two others in Wheat Ridge.
At approximately 7:00 p.m. on October 17, 2025, officers with the Wheat Ridge Police Department responded to a four-vehicle crash on eastbound Highway 58 after a vehicle traveling westbound crossed the median into oncoming traffic.
The investigation revealed that Hernandez-Sanchez was traveling in excess of 70 miles per hour when he struck Smith’s vehicle head-on, causing a chain reaction involving additional vehicles. Approximately two and a half hours after the crash, Hernandez-Sanchez had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .243, more than three times the legal limit.
On March 23, 2026, Hernandez-Sanchez pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Count 1: Vehicular Homicide (F3)
- Count 10: Vehicular Assault (F4)
As a result of the plea, Hernandez-Sanchez faced a maximum sentence of 18 years in prison.
While Hernandez-Sanchez told responding officers he had consumed “two beers” on the day of the crash, he also disclosed a history of alcoholism.
At Friday’s sentencing, defense counsel advocated for a community-based sentence, while the prosecution sought a 16-year sentence in the Department of Corrections.
“Alcoholism is a disease, but when Mr. Hernandez-Sanchez got behind the wheel that day, he made his disease a risk to our community,” stated Senior Deputy District Attorney Jacob Mathews. “The amount of damage and debris on the roadway was jarring and unlike anything I have seen in my years as a prosecutor.”
Mathews also noted that at the time of the crash, Hernandez-Sanchez had an active warrant in Texas stemming from allegations of a 2022 DUI for which he failed to appear.
District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek sentenced Hernandez-Sanchez as follows:
- Count 1: 10 years DOC (Vehicular Homicide – DUI)
- Count 10: 4 years DOC (Vehicular Assault, naming both injured victims), to be served consecutively
Statement from Senior Deputy District Attorney Jacob Mathews:
“This case reflects another devastating and entirely preventable loss for our community. The People extend our deepest condolences to those impacted by the defendant’s decision to drive at three times the legal limit. Mr. Smith’s children lost their father, and the surviving victims will live with the lasting effects of their injuries. These are the real and lasting consequences of that choice. The People extend our gratitude to the Wheat Ridge Police Department for another thorough and dedicated investigation.”
Statement from Chief Chris Murtha of the Wheat Ridge Police Department:
“I’m proud of the relentless work of our Crash and Traffic Team and their meticulous investigation in this case. This marks the third vehicular homicide conviction for a Wheat Ridge case over the past month. We will continue to work proactively to make our streets safer and hold those accountable for their behavior on our roads.”
##