Former El Paso County deputy gets 60 days in jail or work release for deadly Highway 24 crash

A former El Paso County Sheriff's Deputy was sentenced to 60 days of jail or work release for a deadly crash on Highway 24.

Ex-Deputy Quinlan Linebaugh was found guilty of two counts of careless driving resulting in death and two counts of careless driving resulting in injury. The conviction came in late September.

His sentence includes four years of probation. The decision on jail time versus work release for the 60-day sentence has yet to be made. A decision is expected to be reached in February.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry that you had to endure heartache and loss," Linebaugh said in court on Thursday. "Nothing I can do to go back in time and change the event."

11 News learned the case was switched from a jury trial to a court trial, meaning the judge decided the verdict.

Linebaugh was the driver in a fatal crash when he tried to pass two vehicles on Highway 24.

According to Colorado State Patrol at the time of the July 24, 2018 crash, Linebaugh was driving westbound in a marked car and got behind two vehicles, including one driven by 75-year-old Kenneth Wuerfele and 71-year-old Dorothy Wuerfele. Linebaugh allegedly moved into the eastbound lane, right in the path of an oncoming dump truck. The dump truck fishtailed into the westbound lane, hitting and killing the Wuerfeles. The driver of the dump truck, 64-year-old James Stutsman, was thrown from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries. His passenger, Eleazar Velaquez, sustained minor injuries.

At the time of the crash, Linebaugh was placed on administrative leave without pay pending termination according to the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office confirmed he was let go the following month.