LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (Court TV) — A middle school teacher in Colorado has been convicted of careless driving resulting in death after hitting a 10-year-old boy who was riding his bicycle.
Amy Weiss, 54, stood trial on the single charge after the Aug. 2023 death of Oliver Stratton.
Amy Weiss appears in court Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Larimer County Court)
The incident occurred in a neighborhood just before 6 p.m. In a news release, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said “several environmental factors impacted visibility for both (Weiss) and (Stratton)” and evidence of “distracted driving” was found.
At the start of her trial on Dec. 16, Weiss pleaded guilty to a charge of tampering with physical evidence. Prosecutors said she deleted a text message shortly after the crash. She faces up to a year in jail on each of the two charges at her sentencing scheduled for March 7.
Following the guilty verdict, Stratton’s parents said in a statement, “Today, the driver who killed our son, Ollie, was found guilty. While this verdict brings some measure of accountability and we are so grateful for the hard work of the District Attorney’s office and the Larimer Sheriff, it does not bring justice—not for Ollie, not for our family, and not for the countless victims of distracted driving. The charges in this case were never enough to reflect the gravity of what happened. Our son’s life was worth more than misdemeanors. Ollie was 10 years old—a bright, joyful boy with his whole future ahead of him. Yet, the system has treated his death as a minor offense, and that will always be a source of deep pain for us. … Distracted driving is an epidemic. It takes lives, shatters families, and leaves an irreparable hole in communities like ours. We miss our son every day and every minute. But we remain committed to honoring his memory by working to create real impactful change that will make the roads safer for all of us.”
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 5 – 12/20/24
- The jury reached a verdict.
- Sentencing was set for March 7, 2025.
- Prosecutor Gordon McLaughlin asked that a bond for Amy Weiss. Her lawyer, Joseph Gaveldon, said he was outraged, and accused McLaughlin of bringing politics into the mix. McLaughlin called Gavelson’s remarks a “personal attack.”
DAY 4 – 12/19/24
- Investigator Ryan Gebhardt continues his testimony:
- Gebhardt’s report supports the notion that the defendant did not see the boy until the last moment, affirming her statement about the visibility issue.
- Weiss’ last text was sent just one second before the boy entered the roadway, 11 seconds before the crash.
- The judge denies the defense’s motion for judgement of acquittal.
- Matt Weiss, the defendant’s husband, and family friend Tyler Drage testify.
- The jury hears closing arguments.
- WATCH: Prosecutor: Amy Weiss Was Texting Seconds Before Ollie Stratton Was Hit
- The jury begins their deliberations.
DAY 3 – 12/18/24
- The jury heard testimony about data extracted from Weiss’s cellphone, including multiple phone records/map exhibits documenting Weiss’s phone activity over a critical 30-minute window leading up to the accident.
- Michael Stogsdill, a crash reconstruction expert and retired police officer testified.
- Stogsdill discussed driver response times, emphasizing a range of 1.5 to 2 seconds based on research.
- Stogsdill explained that using electronic devices, especially texting, increases reaction times and collision risks.
- Noted that driver complacency is higher closer to home, increasing accident likelihood.
- Investigator Ryan Gebhardt testified about his interviews with Weiss and her recollection of the crash.
DAY 2 – 12/17/24
- Clarissa Stratton, the mother of 10-year-old victim Oliver Stratton, testified about arriving to the scene and law enforcement stopping her from going to Oliver.
- Multiple law enforcement personnel took the stand, including Sgt. Steven Wicker, who testified there was no indication that Weiss’ vehicle braked before hitting Stratton.
- Medical Examiner Joseph White testified Stratton’s cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma injuries.
DAY 1 – 12/16/24
- The jury hears opening statements.
