Faith Winter, a Democratic state senator in Colorado known for her environmental advocacy, was killed Wednesday night in a five-vehicle crash south of Denver.
Ms. Winter’s death, confirmed by Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado on Wednesday night, occurred on Interstate 25 near Dry Creek Road in Arapahoe County. Mr. Polis said that flags would be lowered to half-staff on the day of her memorial service, which is yet to be announced.
Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said that one person died in the crash, which happened around 6:30 p.m., and that three others were injured. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Ms. Winter, 45, was first elected to the state senate in 2018, initially representing Colorado’s 24th district and later the 25th district, after redistricting. She previously served in the Colorado House of Representatives and as a city councilwoman.
An avid hiker, Ms. Winter held a bachelor’s degree in environmental management and biology from the University of the Redlands in California. Before entering state politics, she worked for activist groups including Enviro Citizen, which encourages sustainability, and The White House Project, a group that had worked to promote women in politics, according to her senate biography page.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Polis offered his deepest condolences to Ms. Winter’s loved ones and said he had known Ms. Winter for nearly two decades, starting when she was an organizer for environmental causes.
“Faith was a fierce advocate for hardworking Coloradans, women, and families, and our climate,” he wrote. “I have had the honor of working with her on many issues to improve the lives of every person and family in our great state, and tackling climate change.”
Ms. Winter was behind the passing of a measure in 2021 that imposed fees on the purchase of gas and diesel fuel to raise billions for new transportation projects and to fund efforts to improve air quality. She also was a proponent of a statewide paid-leave program for workers taking time off to care for a baby or for a sick loved one. She first introduced legislation to create a paid-leave program in 2015, according to The Colorado Sun.
Her survivors include her two children, Tobin and Sienna. She was engaged to marry Matt Gray, a former state representative and fellow Democrat, according to The Colorado Sun. She often had her dog, Queso, with her at the Capitol, the news outlet reported.
In a statement, Ms. Winter’s family expressed appreciation for the outpouring of love for her and asked for privacy, according to Denver 7, a local television channel. “Faith led with empathy and love before all else,” the statement said.
Jenny Gross is a reporter for The Times covering breaking news and other topics.
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