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Daughters of elderly couple killed in crash await deputy’s trial

Posted at 7:12 PM, Apr 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-11 21:50:38-04

EL PASO COUNTY – El Paso County Deputy Quinlan Linebaugh was back in court Thursday. He’s accused of trying to pass a car on Highway 24 last July, causing a crash between a car and a dump truck that killed the elderly couple inside the car.

The couple’s daughters only talked to News 5’s Jessica Barreto after the hearing.

While the family grieves their parents, they’re also frustrated waiting for a trial. Meanwhile, attorneys on both sides wait for more evidence from the crash scene– including the exact speed Linebaugh was going. This will all be part of a report by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations.

State Patrol says 71-year-old Dorothy Wuerfele and 75-year-old Kenneth Wuerfele died as a result of being hit by that dump truck.

Their two daughters were in court Thursday for Linebaugh’s pre-trial conference. They say it’s important to be at every hearing not only for themselves but for their siblings living out of state, too.

“Losing both your parents at the same time, tragically in this situation, it’s not easy,” said daughter Stacey Senft.
“We all talk, all of us get on the phone before we get here. We are here ’till we get some type of justice.”

Linebaugh is charged with two counts, each of careless driving causing death and careless driving causing bodily injury. His next hearing is set for May 16.

Linebaugh has a trial date set for June 24, but that could change depending on when that final CBI report is available. Attorneys hoping to have it in the next couple of weeks.