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Deputy's Family Talks About Charges Over I-25 Crashes

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP/CBS4) -- A Douglas County sheriff's deputy facing drunken driving charges over two crashes on Interstate 25 has lost his job.

The sheriff's office said Wednesday 33-year-old Eric Schneider is no longer employed by the agency. Officials refused further comment, but Schneider's family told CBS4 that Schneider resigned his position.

Schneider is accused of stopping his SUV in the middle of northbound I-25 at about 11:30 a.m. on New Year's Day.

Police spokeswoman Karen McGrath says Schneider's SUV and two other vehicles were involved in one crash, and a second crash occurred after a vehicle rear-ended the last of three vehicles that had stopped behind Schneider.

Schneider's father called CBS4 Wednesday and said, "He's taking ownership of what happened even though there are circumstances not being reported yet."

Schneider faces charges of drunken driving and careless driving. Schneider could not be reached for comment and there was no court record indicating Schneider had an attorney.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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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