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Suspect Identified In Crash That Killed Colorado State Patrol Cadet

LONGMONT, Colo. (AP/CBS4) - Authorities have identified the 27-year-old driver arrested after a Colorado State Patrol cadet was killed and a trooper critically injured after they were hit while trying to stop a fleeing car near Longmont.

Christopher Gebers was treated for injuries and taken to the Boulder County Jail.

weld cty CSP crash scene
(credit: CBS)

He is being held for investigation of first-degree murder with extreme indifference, attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference, vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, eluding a police officer, driving vehicle while license canceled or denied and illegal use of blue lights.

RELATED: CSP Trooper Injured & Cadet Killed While Investigating Crash

Authorities say Gebers was fleeing a traffic stop Saturday in Weld County.

Investigators say the driver plowed into the scene of a separate accident investigation being conducted by other troopers, and the trooper and cadet were hit while putting out spikes trying to stop Gebers.

Cadet Thyfault
Cadet Thyfault (credit: Colorado State Patrol)

The cadet, 21-year-old Taylor Thyfault, was riding along with the trooper, 37-year-old Clinton Rushing, as part of training.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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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