A Colorado state senator was tragically killed Wednesday night in a multi-vehicle crash that left three other people injured. State Sen. Faith Winter, a Democrat, was the sole fatality in the five-car collision, which shut down a section of highway in Centennial shortly after 6 p.m., according to the Colorado Senate Democratic Caucus and reports from the New York Post.
Colorado Senate President James Coleman and Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez released a statement expressing deep sorrow over Winter’s passing. They described her as a dedicated public servant whose commitment to the people of Colorado “never wavered,” and said the entire caucus was grieving her loss.
The crash occurred on Interstate 25 near East Dry Creek Road, approximately 16 miles southeast of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. The severity of the accident prompted authorities to close the highway as emergency crews responded to the scene.
Three additional individuals were injured during the collision, although officials have not yet disclosed details about their conditions. The Colorado Sun reported that police investigators are still working to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal chain-reaction crash.
Arapahoe County Sheriff Deputy John Bartmann told local outlets that uncovering the exact cause will take time. He emphasized that investigators must sort through multiple vehicles, witness accounts, and physical evidence before reaching any conclusions.
Images taken by CBS Colorado showed a truck flipped onto its side next to several heavily damaged vehicles scattered across the highway. The chaotic scene reflected the intensity of the collision and the challenges responders faced in securing the area.
The sheriff’s office later confirmed that the road was fully cleared and reopened just before midnight. Cleanup crews spent hours removing debris and allowing investigators to map out the crash site.
Sen. Winter, 45, began her political career in the Colorado House of Representatives after winning her first election in 2014. In 2018, she successfully ran for the state Senate, defeating Republican incumbent Beth Martinez Humenik in the race for the 24th District.
After redistricting, Winter began representing the 25th Senate District in 2023 and was serving as the assistant Senate majority leader, making her the chamber’s third-highest-ranking official. She was approaching her term limit in 2026. Winter leaves behind two children, Tobin and Sienna, as well as her fiancé, former state Rep. Matt Gray.
Winter was widely known for her advocacy on transportation and environmental policy. At the time of her death, she chaired the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee and served on several others, including Business, Labor & Technology and Local Government & Housing. Her official biography noted her degree in environmental management and biology from the University of Redlands.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis also released a statement mourning her loss, saying the state was “shaken” by the news. Polis praised her as a strong advocate for working families, women, and environmental issues, noting that he had worked alongside her for nearly two decades on a variety of causes.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold echoed those sentiments, calling Winter a “fierce advocate” who left a meaningful legacy. She offered condolences to Winter’s family and said the senator’s impact on her community would not be forgotten.
According to the Post, a party vacancy committee is expected to determine who will serve out the remaining year of Winter’s term. Meanwhile, the tragedy comes in the wake of recent political tensions in Colorado, one of several Democrat-led states that attempted—ultimately unsuccessfully—to keep Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot under a 14th Amendment provision.
