May 12, 2010 update:
Barbara Thomas, who killed EJ and Jayson on 26th street had her Parole Board hearing today and was denied parole.
She will not be eligible for parole for another year.
http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/92065504.html
Even without parole, she will ONLY serve 36 months for killing EJ and Jayson.
Please contact the regional director and tell him to apply the entire sentence to this dangerous person:
Tim Hand, Deputy Director, Regional Operations
940 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 763-2420
tim.hand@doc.state.co.us
Edgar "E.J." Juarez and Jayson Kilroy were killed when a pickup truck driven by 63-year-old Barbara Thomas struck them at the intersection of 26th and Westend, August 6, 2008. She was turning left when they were hit headon.
Police say Thomas was not wearing her required contact lenses and was under the influence of prescription drugs. Thomas has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of drugs and driving with a restricted license.
Both worked at Colorado Cyclist and were hired by owner Doug Bruinsma. Friends of the victims gathered at the crash site Wednesday, they put together a large makeshift memorial with pictures, flowers and two bikes. Scott Boyer was a co-worker and E.J.'s roommate and said E.J. didn't even own a car.
More than 100 cyclists showed up in front of Wooglin's Deli on Tejon Street and biked together the half hour ride to the scene of Wednesday's crash. Jayson and E.J.'s friends rode from Wooglins Deli on Tejon St. to the scene of the crash Thursday night; a memorial bike ride to honor their two friends. A candlelight vigil was set up at 26th Street and Westend Avenue.
E.J. served in the Army from 1997-2003 and turned to biking as a way to remain active after tours in countries as distant as Germany and Bosnia.
The suburban Chicago native leaves behind his parents and an older sister. Kilroy, from Houghton Lake, Mich, and is survived by his mother, Rita, and both are missed horribly by friends like Scott Boyer, Tori Rust, Jeff Cloutier, Devan Neubacher, Erin Nicole Brown, Tall George, and many many others. Jayson was from Michigan, E.J. from Illinois, friends say their funerals will be held in their home states. A a group of cyclists are meeting at 9am on Sunday, the 10th at the scene of EJ and Jayson's accident for a short ride in the canyon on one of EJ's favorite training loops.
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinner/
In a courtroom filled with dozens of bicyclists -- some in cycling shorts and others with helmets hanging at their side -- 64-year-old Barbara Thomas said she was sorry. She said she wished it had been her. She said she felt badly for the two men she killed and their families.
But, as Thomas hunched over in her wheelchair Monday, 4th Judicial District Judge Gilbert A. Martinez said her crime was reckless and caused the most serious harm: the deaths of bicyclists Jayson Kilroy, 28, and Edgar "E.J." Juarez, 30.
He sentenced Thomas to three years in prison for plowing her one-ton pickup truck into a group of five bicyclists on Aug. 6, 2008, killing the two men. At the time, she was driving under the influence of prescription morphine and barbiturates and without her required glasses. Her sentence is three years shy of the maximum six years under a plea bargain.
Thomas struck and killed the men at S. 26th Street, minutes after leaving the West Colorado Avenue Safeway. Police said she had been shoplifting and banged into a man's car in the parking lot before driving off. The man followed her and saw her hit the bicyclists as she tried to turn left onto Westend Avenue -- without yielding to oncoming traffic -- in her 1986 Ford F-350. Police found her speech slurred and her eyes bloodshot, according to an arrest affidavit.
The court summarized her history: four convictions of shoplifting dating back to 1983, drinking in a vehicle, careless driving and minor traffic infractions. She had an outstanding summons for a hit-and-run two months before the collision.
Family members of the victims sat in the front row, including Rita Kilroy, Jayson's mother from St. Claire Shores, Mich. She told the court he was her only child and the most valuable part of her life. His death took her identity, her happiness, her peace.
"I run through in my mind," she said through tears, "how he must have felt. Did it hurt? Was he scared?"
Then she collapsed. Draped around her neck was a silver necklace, and just below her collar bone dangled a heart engraved with her son's picture.
Outside the courtroom, escaping the past 10 months for a moment, she looked up at Pikes Peak. She pointed to the Incline. She used to bike the trail with her son.
"Every time I made it a little further," she said slowly, "but I never made it. I'm going to try again tomorrow."
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I miss my brother jayson...rest in peace Jay, wish i could have seen you b4 this shit happened...love you always -ur little bro -Troy-
southerlybeast 1 year ago
@Kirk81795 They were killed by a 63 year old woman high on drugs, speeding (she was trying to get away from Safeway where she was shoplifting) and not wearing her glasses)
sarahxbee 1 year ago
ano kinamatay nila??? how do they die??
Kirk81795 3 years ago
EJ was my brother and I miss him and wish I kept more in touch with him! (crying) :(
CyberUniqueBoutique 3 years ago
ej was my best friend, roommate and coworker. i miss him so much. his memory lives on with all of us. he was so strong and funny. he set the bar very high. my life feels like it is full of holes without him.
xcutterx 3 years ago
video
pitachona 3 years ago
jayson was one of the most honest people i will ever have the pleasure of knowing,it hurts me every day knowing that i will never get to see him again, but i finally realized that i need to embrace life and charish everyone near me i will miss you jayson forever
booziecat 3 years ago
I had the brief pleasure of knowing Jayson through my niece Megan. He was a nice young man who was liked by all who knew him. We will miss him and pray for him and E.J.
wallenba 3 years ago
OMG I love it and Jayson would of loved it too!
wtfwhodouthinkiam 3 years ago
This video is beautiful. I'm very sorry for the loss of your friends.
sxmcwhi 3 years ago