Katharina Rothman, 42, was killed in the 2023 crash. Her passenger was seriously hurt.
DENVER — A man who caused a fatal crash near the DU campus in 2023 while driving drunk could get up to eight years behind bars when he’s sentenced Friday morning.
In February Coban Porter, the younger brother of Denver Nuggets player Michael Porter Jr., pleaded guilty in Denver District Court to two felony counts. He had been charged with multiple felony counts including vehicular homicide related to the crash that killed 42-year-old Katharina Rothman. He pleaded guilty to:
- Vehicular homicide – DUI
- Vehicular assault- DUI
Charges of vehicular homicide-reckless driving and vehicular assault-reckless were dismissed. As a result of the deal, his sentence will be capped at a maximum of eight years in the Colorado Department of Corrections. He could also be sentenced to probation, according to his attorney. If the case had gone to trial he could have at least 24 years behind bars.
Porter was driving drunk and causing the Jan. 22, 2023, crash at the intersection of South University Boulevard and East Buchtel Boulevard that killed Rothman.
An arrest affidavit from the Denver Police Department shows Porter was speeding, ran a red light, smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech.
According to police, when Porter ran the red light, he struck Rothman’s vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Rothman was driving for Uber at the time of the crash. Her passenger, Jason Blanch, was seriously hurt in the crash.
Two lawsuits were filed related to the crash. Both suits seek unspecified damages from Porter and the Crimson and Gold Tavern. The suits allege that workers at the Tavern served Porter even though he was in “a visibly intoxicated state.”
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