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Sen. Williams Returns To Capitol After Fatal Crash

DENVER (CBS4/AP) - A Colorado state senator involved in a fatal crash in Texas is vowing to continue working on transportation issues even though she was blocked from leading the Senate's transportation committee.

Sen. Suzanne Williams returned to the Capitol Wednesday for the new legislative session. She declined to talk about the Dec. 26 crash.

"It's very good to be back. I have appreciated everyone's prayers and thoughts over the last couple of weeks during the tragic accident," Williams said at the Capitol Wednesday.

Investigators say Williams' SUV drifted into oncoming traffic, killing Brianna Gomez of Amarillo. Gomez was pregnant and her son survived after being delivered by emergency cesarean section.

"My attorney has said that I cannot talk about the case,  but we have a great bonding," Williams said.

Williams was vice-chair of the transportation committee last year and had been expected to lead it this year. Officials removed her name from consideration following the crash, which remains under investigation.

"She's been through a horrific tragedy and she needs the time and the space to heal and deal with this and doesn't need the responsibilities that go along with being the chair of transportation," Democratic Senate Majority Leader John Morse said.

Williams has been a longtime advocate of child restraint and seat belt laws, but accident reports say her own son and two grandchildren were not properly restrained. Some wonder if the crash could be a distraction from her platform. The crash investigation revealed that the senator put her 3-year-old grandson back in his car seat after he was ejected from the vehicle.

"I am still on the transportation committee, vice chair as I have always been," Williams said. "That will continue."

As of Wednesday no charges have been filed.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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