No Charges To Be Filed In Death Of Child Near Fort Collins School

Fort Collins Police say their investigation into the death of a 6-year-old who was hit by a car near an elementary school shows the collision was a "tragic accident," and that no charges will be filed against the man who was driving the vehicle.

6-year-old Vale Wolkow was hit in a crosswalk on November 5 near Lopez Elementary School by a vehicle driven by a 23-year-old man. The boy later died from his injuries. but police say their investigation has found no wrongdoing by the driver of the vehicle.

The car stopped at a nearby stop sign, proceeding only when the intersection was free of traffic. The boy walked into the crosswalk and into the path of the oncoming vehicle, which tried to stop but was unable to avoid hitting the child.

A post on the Fort Collins Police Services Facebook page included the following comments:

"A collision reconstruction analysis was completed by the Fort Collins Police CRASH (Collision Reconstruction and Scene Handling) Team. The analysis determined the SUV was already crossing the intersection when the children left the sidewalk and ran toward the school. Through the analysis, investigators were able to estimate that the SUV was traveling 14mph just before the collision. The speed limit in that area is 25mph.

The investigation concluded that neither speed, sun glare, nor distracted driving contributed to the crash. The vehicle’s driver-side pillar along the windshield likely contributed by partially blocking the driver’s view of the children.

The investigation was conducted in conjunction with the District Attorney’s Office. Based on the totality of the circumstances, including the technical crash reconstruction and independent eyewitness statements, it was determined no charges would be filed against the driver."