'Voice of the Avalanche' pleads guilty in accident

written by: Paula Woodward

2 years ago

JEFFERSON COUNTY – Three girls involved in an accident with the play-by-play announcer for the Colorado Avalanche were told by the judge they could decide his sentence.

"All I could think about was, ‘Oh my God, she was dead,’” said Rachel to the judge. “I thank God every day that she took a deep breath and began to scream. At least she was alive."

Michael Haynes was in Jefferson County Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to following too closely in connection with a March 2007 accident.

Three girls were in the other car that he rear-ended, one was seriously injured.

"I will never forget as long as I live turning back to see Lisa unconscious, not moving and pinned into the seat," said Rachel, the driver of the car who was hit by Haynes.

The girls, Rachel, Lisa and Brittany, asked that only their first names be used.

"All I could think about was, 'Oh my God, she was dead,'" said Rachel to the judge. "I thank God every day that she took a deep breath and began to scream. At least she was alive."

Lisa suffered a broken femur and went through 10 months of treatment.

"This accident affected me for the rest of my life," she said.

"I am indeed very sorry about Lisa and Brittany's injuries. They are completely innocent victims in this and I understand that. I understand the parents' views," Haynes told the judge.

After Jefferson County Judge Jack DeVita accepted Haynes' guilty plea, he announced an unusual sentence.

"You can help decide where Mr. Haynes does his 60 hours of community service," he told the girls.

Haynes asked that his sentence include community service helping families with brain injuries because of his own recent surgery. Two months ago, Haynes had surgery for a life-threatening aneurysm.

DeVita suggested to the three girls that they take Haynes "out of his comfort zone a little bit and make him understand what a victim is."

The three girls decided they wanted Haynes to serve his community service by giving 20 hours to people in a thrift store, 20 hours at a rescue mission, and 20 hours at a treatment center serving meals.

Haynes says he disagrees with the claim that the stoplight was yellow and not green. A civil suit over the matter has already been settled, but the terms are confidential.