Sergeant Killed Helping Motorist On U.S. 285 Was Husband, Father Of 4
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) - Jefferson County deputies are mourning the loss of one of their own after an accident on a slick highway near Conifer Saturday afternoon.
Sgt. Sean Renfro was off duty when he was killed while helping drivers involved in a previous crash on U.S. Highway 285 approximately 5 miles north of Conifer.
Officials with the Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District said icy, slick road conditions contributed to the accident that also injured Renfo's friend who was transported to a hospital with serious injuries.
Authorities said Renfro, a 15-year veteran with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, saw an accident along 285 and stopped to help. According to Sheriff Ted Mink, who talked at a news conference on Sunday, Renfro was directing traffic around the crash. A vehicle traveling northbound lost control and crossed the median, striking Renfro and his friend.
"Hits the family hard, it hits the Jeffco family hard, and it hits our entire profession in the gut, because we've lost somebody," Mink said.
"This is always a traumatic moment for all of us in fire, EMS and law enforcement," said Dan Hadlestead with Inter-Canyon Fire, who was at the scene. "The loss of a colleague in law enforcement is a blow to all of us in the first responder industry. We work very closely with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and many of our firefighters have worked very closely with the sheriff's deputy who died this afternoon."
Mink became emotional at Sunday's new conference when talking about Renfro.
"Being typical Sean, he took them out of their car and put them in his truck so they could stay warm while he was outside," Mink said.
Renfro was a husband and father of four.
"I know he was off duty, but certainly he was doing what he was passionate about doing, and that was helping his fellow men and women," Mink said. "Sean was a wonderful person, left behind four children, a wife. Our prayers go out to them."
RELATED: Off-Duty Jefferson County Sergeant Killed Helping Motorist On Snowy U.S. 285
Mink said grief counseling will be available to members of his department.
The Colorado State Patrol is conducting an investigation and is asking that any witnesses to the crash who haven't talked with investigators to contact them. It's not yet known if the driver that hit Renfro will face any charges.
Additional Information
To help Renfro's family deal with the expenses associated with their loss, visit the Sean Renfro Family Fund webpage at GoFundMe.com.
