Colorado Woman Sentenced for Fatal DUI Incident
A woman from Colorado received a lengthy prison sentence after causing a deadly drunk driving incident that resulted in the death of a motorcyclist. In a surprising twist, she attempted to shift the blame onto a “Mexican woman.”
Karyn Settle, 30, was involved in an accident in mid-June in Grand Junction when she hit 41-year-old Aaron Barone, who, at the time, was also under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, Barone succumbed to his injuries and passed away in the hospital on July 4, 2025, three weeks following the crash.
Immediately after the incident, Settle told officers that a “Mexican driver” had struck Barone before fleeing the scene. This detail raised eyebrows among the police, as body camera footage revealed the hood of her SUV appeared to be stained with “blood or human flesh.”
Officers discovered alcoholic beverages inside her damaged vehicle and soon arrested her for suspected drunk driving. When informed of her arrest, Settle seemed dismissive, stating, “That’s good.”
Subsequent blood tests indicated that Settle was under the influence of both alcohol and cocaine during the accident. Following her arrest in September, numerous charges were brought against her, including vehicular homicide.
On April 30, she was sentenced to the maximum term: six years for vehicular homicide and one year for possession of a controlled substance, after pleading guilty to both counts.
Despite her attorney’s claims that Settle was accepting responsibility and had struggled with addiction, the judge noted her repeated failures in drug tests as evidence of her disregard for the consequences of her actions. Judge Jennilyn Lawrence emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Mr. Barone lost his life, and that cannot be taken back.”
Aaron Barone was remembered fondly, described as a versatile father with various skills, from veterinary medicine to radio repair. His family commended his strength, noting that he survived for three additional weeks after the crash.
