CDOT worker killed last week on U.S. 6 in Mesa County is laid to rest

Under gray cloudy skies dozens of Colorado Department of Transportation vehicles streamed through the town of Palisade with their yellow lights flashing as part of a funeral procession for 43-year-old Trenton Umberger, a CDOT employee who was killed in a roadside accident last week.

Despite bands of rain and claps of loud thunder , community members lined Elberta Avenue to watch the procession, which included other agencies like Mesa County, Colorado State Patrol, Ute Water and Xcel Energy, drive through on the way to the funeral for Umberger.

Umberger and 23-year-old Nathan Jones, another CDOT employee, were killed on U.S. 6 near Mount Garfield Middle School when a Jeep Grand Cherokee struck them while they were working outside their vehicle doing highway maintenance beside the roadway on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

---

---

Kathi Wallace, a 67-year-old Mesa County resident who was a passenger in the Jeep, was also killed.
Luke Young was one of the community members who came out Wednesday afternoon to watch the funeral procession and pay his respect to a man that he knew well. He said he knew the Umberger family, having grown up in Palisade.

“This is still a really small community, especially for those of us that grew up here,” Young said. “Trent was absolutely one of the nicest people you would ever meet in your life. He was just a big teddy bear. I think he touched a lot of people and he was very friendly with a lot of people.”

---

---

Young said he was happy to see the outpouring of respect and the numerous other community members coming out supporting the Umberger family. He said his thoughts were with the Umberger family.

Lindsey Almond, a Palisade resident, said she didn’t know either victim, but came out to be supportive of the community and public service workers. She said it was fitting that the procession fell on September 11, a day when people remember the service of police, firefighters and others who lost their lives on that day in 2001.

“Today is 9/11 out of all days and it’s just a day we need to remember and honor the workers and everybody that works to save lives and are in the line of duty,” Almond said. “It’s just a day to remember.”

Colorado State Patrol Trooper and Public Information Officer Sam Goure said Wednesday’s event was meant to focus on the families of the victims and to show support for them as they grieve.

“I think the important thing is we all remember that three victims, three families lost somebody and right now is our time to heal and mourn for those families and try to support them as best as we can,” Goure said.

In the wake of this tragedy, Goure urged people to be cautious when driving, especially when passing workers who are stopped on the side of the road or outside their vehicles. He said state law requires drivers to move over or slow down if they cannot.

“Be under control with your vehicle at all times and pay attention,” Goure said. “That obviously is half the battle right there. … A vehicle is a deadly weapon. If you aren’t focused while operating it it leaves yourself and everyone else open for horrific things to happen.”

Young echoed Goure’s statements, saying that the community has seen other deaths on its roads in the past. He urged people to be safe.

“Just be careful. We always talk about this stuff. It’s happened to other families in our community … Just be careful and pay attention when you’re driving,” Young said. “Put the cellphones down and be mindful.”

He said the investigation into the crash remains open and that the CSP vehicular crimes unit was being thorough in its work. He said he wouldn’t expect the investigation to conclude for several weeks.

The driver of the Jeep has not yet been charged with a crime related to the crash. However, Goure said that an incident like this could include charges from carelessness causing death to vehicular homicide depending on the circumstances, including if the driver was impaired at the time of the crash. He said he did not have specific details on potential charges for this case.

“This is something the State Patrol will get right,” Goure said. “The investigation will be done correctly and if somebody needs to be held accountable they will be.”

Following the procession, a funeral that was open to Umberger’s family and coworkers was held at a venue in Palisade.

As the line of vehicles made their way to the venue a few carrying digital signs flashed Trenton Umberger’s name and date of death with the final message: End of watch.