Pregnant mother loses child, suspected impaired driver thrown from car following crash in northern Colorado

A pregnant northern Colorado woman lost her child Wednesday night after a suspected impaired driver ran a stop sign, causing the two cars to collide. The crash, which occurred on Weld County Highway 14 and Route 15 near Timnath, is currently being reviewed for prosecution by the Weld County Prosecutor's Office.

According to the Timnath Police Department, 37-year-old Gordon Cobb was the suspected impaired driver who caused the crash. Police said CBS News Colorado's Dillon Thomas Cobb was heading south on County Road 15 when he ran a stop sign. That's when he collided with the westbound vehicle driven by the pregnant woman.

Cobb was allegedly ejected from his vehicle as the woman's vehicle sped into oncoming traffic before stopping in a ditch.

Both were rushed to Medical Center of the Rockies. The woman was taken to the operating room where she tragically lost her child.

Cobb was treated and transported to the WCSO jail.

District Attorney Michael Rourke told Thomas his office now plans to pursue charges that include unlawful termination of pregnancy by vehicle. This law was first created in 2013 and is not commonly used.

“I think the legislature saw that there was an opportunity to make sure that abusers of pregnant women were held accountable,” Rourke said. “If you are driving while intoxicated, alcohol or drug-induced and you are the proximate cause of the miscarriage, you may be charged and convicted of a class four felony.”

Rourke, speaking in general terms about the potential charges Cobb faces and not specifically about the case, said it's important for prosecutors to hold suspects accountable for the times they cause an expectant mother to lose her child.

“We are going to give this matter our full attention,” Rourke said. “It’s not a very common accusation.”

Cobb was reportedly released shortly after being treated at the hospital and then incarcerated.

Rourke said his team has begun the process of reviewing the case so they can determine what charges to pursue.

The identity of the victim has not been released by the Timnath police or the WCDA office.

“Pregnant women are in a different situation and at higher risk, and must be recognized by law as victims in a very special way,” Rourke said.