Fatal Crash Occurs After High-Speed Pursuit in Greeley

Tragedy struck in Greeley as 33-year-old Jose Sambrano was declared clinically brain dead following a high-speed pursuit that ended in a fatal crash. Sambrano, who had been in intensive care after sustaining critical injuries from a collision, tragically passed away after being removed from life support.

The incident unfolded when Sambrano, in a stolen red 1998 Dodge 1500 pickup, attempted to evade a Greeley Police officer’s traffic stop by speeding through an intersection at 8th Avenue and 20th Street. This reckless maneuver resulted in a collision with a Cadillac SUV carrying three occupants, all of whom sustained injuries but are expected to fully recover.

Before the pursuit, it was revealed that Sambrano was involved in a residential burglary on 8th Avenue. The homeowner, who was present during the break-in, fortunately remained unharmed. Authorities later confirmed that the stolen truck had been reported stolen by its owner earlier that evening, who was also injured while trying to prevent the theft.

An investigation into Sambrano’s background unveiled a history of 25 traffic, misdemeanor, and felony cases dating back to 2009. He had previously served time in the Colorado Department of Corrections for a felony trespass conviction and was arrested just days before the fatal crash on theft charges.

Logan Smith, an experienced assignment desk editor at CBS Colorado in Denver, reported on this tragic incident, shedding light on the sequence of events that led to the loss of life. The Greeley Police Department provided details on the pursuit and subsequent collision, emphasizing the dangers of evading law enforcement.