Denver, CO
Drunken driver sentenced to 12 years in prison for running red light, killing Colorado Ballet musician
A 23-year-old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Tuesday for a drunken driving, multi-vehicle crash that killed a Colorado Ballet musician and hospitalized three others.
Juan Ortega Torres Jr., 23, pleaded guilty to one charge of vehicular homicide and two charges of vehicular assault in May, according to a news release from the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
The plea dropped four additional counts of vehicular assault, driving under the influence and reckless driving from his case, according to court records.
On Tuesday, Ortega Torres was sentenced to 12 years in prison — half of the maximum 24-year sentence he could have received, according to the DA’s office.
The crash happened after Ortega Torres ran a red light at West 64th Avenue and Lamar Street in Arvada, crashing into three cars while going 60 mph in a 35 mph zone, the DA’s office said in the release.
Kresten Wolff Thomsen, 44, died in the crash and two children and the driver of another vehicle were injured, Arvada police said.
Thomsen was picking his two children up from school and was a few miles from home when the crash occurred. He was a composer, writer and musician who worked with the Colorado Ballet.
“All of the words in all of the languages on earth will never be able to describe what a wonderful man this was,” Thomsen’s wife said to the court Tuesday. “Kresten and the loss of him consumes my every thought. I live in a sorrow that is indescribable, unpredictable, and inconsolable. I long for him every minute of every day.”
Ortega Torres said during the sentencing hearing that he wished he could trade places with Thomsen.
“I still can’t believe the harm I’ve done to this family,” Ortega Torres said. “I hope people believe me that I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
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Denver, CO
Dale Kistler Obituary | The Denver Post
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Denver, CO
Where to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Playoffs: TV channel, start time, streaming for April 18
The 2026 NBA postseason is finally here after a thrilling Play-In Tournament saw the Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers officially earn their spot in the playoffs
The postseason action continues on Saturday as the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the first round. We’ve got you covered on everything you need to know to tune in for tip off.
Want to see the full National Basketball Association schedule for April 18 and how to watch all the games? Check out our sortable NBA schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Game 1?
Tip off between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, April 18.
How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets on Saturday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11:45 a.m.
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Denver, CO
Timothy Weil Obituary | The Denver Post
Timothy Weil
OBITUARY
Timothy Robert Weil 1952-2026 Tim Weil was born in Los Angeles, California.
In his early life he held many jobs, but he often commented that among his most memorable and rewarding roles was using his Spanish fluency to teach elementary school students in East LA. It instilled in him the importance of social justice which he in turn emphasized to his children.
On April Fool’s Day, 1981, he and “NC” (Nancy) married, a partnership that launched a unique and fulfilling life. Theirs was a union of sly, poetic witticism; they collaborated in writing jokes, songs, stories, and mythologies for over four decades. They maintained a high level commitment to wordplay and the celebration of silliness for most of their marriage. Tim and Nancy lived together in Boulder, CO, Chico, CA, Alexandria, VA, and Takoma Park, MD, before finally landing back in Denver as empty-nesters.
Tim found community in many places: Taking on a role as Assistant Scoutmaster with Page and Louis’ Boy Scout troop in Takoma Park; crafting an award-winning beer with his homebrewing group; staying in the game of baseball in the Ponce de Leon (over 50) league; playing bluegrass and folk music with other enthusiasts; performing stories with creatives at Denver venues; and joining Jewish congregations Temple Shalom in Maryland, and Temple Micah in Denver.
Tim’s creativity and playfulness were among his most defining features. Nothing was brighter than the gleam in his eye when he prepared to tell a joke, with a setup spanning about ten minutes of vivid details, often ending in a personalized, spectacularly delivered pun of his own design. To label those jokes mere “groaners” would be a disservice to his masterful storytelling. A piece he submitted to Rolling Stone about his jocular parasocial relationship with actor Lou Ferrigno received a personal rejection letter, noted as “very interesting” by the editor.
His professional work in the field of network security computing provided an outlet for his intellect as well as many professional and personal relationships throughout a career that spanned over 30 years. His writing was published in IEEE magazine and other tech journals.
Throughout his life he engaged deeply with visual art, literature, film, and music. He traveled far and wide, including to Jerusalem, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Vancouver, Seoul, Paris, Ipswich, London, and Edinburgh.
His recent struggle with severe depression was devastating for him and those close to him. It robbed him of his light and kept him in isolation from which sadly he was unable to escape. He will be remembered as the person who, despite the pain he carried, led an incredibly full life and touched the hearts of countless people with his witty humor and warmth.
He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 45 years, sons Page and Louis, daughter-in-law Jessica, grandsons Felix and Calvin, and cats Shackleton and Whiskey, along with many family and friends coast to coast.
A celebration of his life will be held in Denver at 1pm on Sunday, May 17th at Temple Micah, 1980 Dahlia Street. Bring your fondest memories of Tim. Please, no gifts or flowers. If you would like to make a donation in his memory, please consider American Foundation for Suicide Prevention https://afsp.org/.
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