Man Arrested for Driving Truck Through Colorado High School; Janitors Forced to ‘Jump out of the Way’
A man in a truck smashed through the front doors of a Colorado high school, drove down a hall, and into the cafeteria, sending two janitors running for cover. The incident happened at University High School in Greeley. Thankfully, no one was reportedly injured in the incident.
Newly released video reveals the damage caused by the truck. According to the arrest affidavit, when officers arrived at University High School in Greeley, the truck was found stopped in a hallway. Shattered glass, damaged walls, and other debris were strewn about the scene. KDVR News reports that the officers stated the driver appeared sluggish and unsteady, with slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and smelled of alcohol.
Last week, prosecutors filed 10 charges against the 28-year-old truck driver. They include reckless driving, driving a vehicle with a revoked license, felony driving a vehicle while under the influence, two felony counts of criminal mischief, multiple counts of reckless endangerment, and interference with staff, faculty, or students. He was held on $500,000 bail at the Weld County Jail.
It is, according to court records, the driver’s fourth felony DUI charge. His third alleged DUI, which occurred on Dec. 5, 2024, is still proceeding through court, according to 9 News.
Despite the massive amount of damage, the high school held classes the next day
Four staff members were inside the school at the time of the incident: three janitors and a color guard coach. Two of the janitors were working near the front entrance when the truck crashed through it. They told police they “had to jump out of the way and duck into a bathroom to avoid being hit.”
“None of the victims reported any injuries as a result of this incident,” a Greeley police officer wrote in the affidavit. “…however, the defendant’s reckless action created a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to all four victims.”
The color guard coach reportedly ran barefoot from the gym through broken glass and debris to assist after hearing the commotion.
“No one to our knowledge was right in the direct path,” said Dennis Lobato, University High School security. “Although there were people here and there in the vicinity. It was something that could have been a lot worse for sure.”
The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. After the building’s safety and structural integrity were determined to be sound, classes continued as scheduled the next day.
