Man gets 4 years for fatal February 2025 crash

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) - The man who was arrested last year for a fatal crash that killed an 87-year-old woman was given four years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Jeremy Kauffman previously pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide-reckless driving, a Class 4 felony. The other charges – nine counts of reckless driving – were dropped as part of the plea agreement. The crash happened on Feb. 22, 2025, when Kauffman’s vehicle and the car driven by the victim, Peggy Chesney, collided at the intersection of Patterson Road and 25 Road. Chesney would later die from her injuries about two weeks later, while Kauffman suffered fractures in his ribs, face and right knee. Kauffman was later arrested in August. According to the arrest affidavit, they were both transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center and Kauffman told an officer he was speeding when the collision occurred. He was also cooperative with law enforcement and willingly signed a consent for a blood draw and medical records. A witness of the crash told police he saw Kauffman speeding as they were stopped at a light on 24 1/2 and Patterson roads. Once the light turned green, he witnessed Kauffman’s Firebird overtaking the cars in the left lane from the right-hand lane. As part of the investigation, police reviewed dash cam footage from the Firebird. Authorities found through the footage dated from Feb. 7-22 that Kauffman drove at extensive speeds on several occasions. This included going 71 mph in a 35-mph zone and 85 mph while the speed limit was 45. On the day of the crash, Kauffman is believed to have been going between 61 and 63 mph when he collided with Chesney’s vehicle. Back at sentencing, Chesney's granddaughter told Judge Craig Henderson that her grandmother was in "excruciating pain" before she died. She would wince and cry out whenever the nurses moved her at the hospital, her granddaughter said. Chesney was described as "adventurous, funny, stubborn and generous" by her granddaughter. She lived in Grand Junction by herself after her husband died from Alzheimer's. Her granddaughter said she eventually convinced her grandmother to move to Tucson, Arizona, to be closer to her and her family, but two days after this conversation, the crash happened. Kauffman's family, which included his mother, uncle and two aunts, spoke in front of the judge. They said Kauffman is a caring man who broke free from a difficult upbringing. They also noted he is a wonderful parent and has been a better father than his dad was. Kauffman, for his part, said he takes full responsibility for his actions, saying he is the reason why Chesney passed away. He added he drove "recklessly" and "inappropriately" the weeks leading up to the crash. "I can't express how sorry I am," Kauffman said. Henderson said he didn't give Kauffman the maximum sentence of six years because he believes the man is genuinely remorseful and he has no criminal history (he was cited for reckless and careless driving a few years prior). However, the judge bluntly told Kauffman, "You killed her." "This was no accident," Henderson said. "If this was an accident, I don't think someone would be dead." After he serves his time, Kauffman will have three years of parole. As part of his plea deal, he will also have to pay restitution, but faces no fines.