Pueblo man found guilty of vehicular homicide in fatal 2021 motorcycle wreck

A Pueblo man has been found guilty of vehicular homicide in connection to a 2021 fatal motorcycle wreck.

Shawn Kiefer, 35, was found guilty of vehicular homicide – DUI, and vehicular assault – DUI, in connection to the 2021 crash that killed 48-year-old Darrell Pagels and seriously injured a passenger on his motorcycle.

Pueblo police were called to the intersection of Pueblo Boulevard and Lake Avenue at approximately 2:20 a.m. on May 21, 2021, on a report of a crash with injuries.

At the scene, officers found a motorcycle and both of its riders lying on Pueblo Boulevard. Both riders suffered serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital where Pagels later was pronounced dead.

While responding to the scene, officers also located a white SUV that had pulled into a nearby convenience store parking lot, which police said in a news release had “severe damage from colliding with the motorcycle.”

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The police investigation found both the motorcycle and SUV were traveling eastbound on Pueblo Boulevard and approaching Lake Avenue when the motorcycle slowed as it prepared to turn northbound on Lake Avenue and was struck from behind by the SUV.

Through trial proceedings, Kiefer’s attorneys said Pagels, too, was under the influence at the time of the crash and was driving his motorcycle without a license, Chieftain news partner KRDO News Channel 13 reported.

Prosecutors, however, argued Kiefer was at fault in the crash because he was under the influence of alcohol and was traveling over the speed limit, according to KRDO.

Kiefer is set to be sentenced on May 19 — two days prior to the two-year anniversary of the crash that killed Pagels.

In June 2021, a group of Pueblo motorcyclists and supporters hosted a rally to raise awareness about motorcycle safety following a string of deadly motorcycle wrecks in the city.

There, one of the rally-goers, Samantha Wolf, mentioned the loss of Pagels, whom she noted left behind seven children.

"(Pagels) was like a brother," Wolf said. "Bikers stay together, it doesn't matter if you're in one of the clubs or not, if you're a biker, you are family.

"Be aware of your surroundings, pay attention," she advised local motorists. "It could be one of your family members next."

Chieftain editor Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@gannett.com or on Twitter @ZachHillstrom