The driver who collided with a lawnmower, killing its rider, in unincorporated El Paso County did not steer evasively or brake before the crash and was impaired by drugs at the time, court documents obtained by The Gazette show.

Amy Dalton, 37, of Calhan, was driving her Subaru along the North Calhan Highway on Aug. 24 when it left the road and crashed into 79-year-old Robert “Bob” Selle, a former superintendent of Calhan School District, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

She appeared in an El Paso County courtroom Friday for an advisement hearing on charges of vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, reckless driving and operating a vehicle without insurance.

Colorado State Patrol investigators allege in court documents that Dalton unlawfully operated her vehicle under the influence of an unknown amount of at least two redacted substances, a voluntary drug test a few hours after the crash showed.

The vehicle traveled about 200 feet on the grass and dirt shoulder of the “straight and flat” highway before hitting a post and then the northern edge of a driveway, becoming airborne. The Subaru then crashed through a barbed wire fence and crashed into the lawnmower, eventually landing on its roof, according to court documents.

Dalton blamed losing control of her Subaru on its faulty tires to several troopers on the day of the crash, but there were no signs of mechanical or system failures at the scene or in the post-crash investigation. Troopers found that the path of Dalton’s vehicle was consistent with following the topography of the shoulder, court documents state.

Data from the vehicle’s airbag control module indicated Dalton had been traveling around 60 mph in a straight line with a constant 2.5-degree steering direction for four of the five recorded seconds before the crash. Investigators believe this could be caused by an alignment issue, Dalton applying “light” constant steering or a result of three tires in poor condition with uneven wear.

Troopers ultimately determined that Dalton did not apply the brakes or make any evasive steering inputs in the five seconds leading up to the crash, according to court documents.

A trooper at the scene noticed that Dalton’s eyelids “seemed very heavy” and she appeared “mellow” while answering questions from EMS. She was taken to a hospital for moderate injuries, court documents state.

Dalton reported she takes three prescription medications and was administered two drugs before arriving at the hospital, although it is unclear whether the drug test flagged those redacted drugs or others.

Dalton allegedly reported she uses marijuana daily and “recently tried” methamphetamine for the first time, according to court documents. A voluntary blood test determined Dalton was not under the influence of alcohol.

The authorities found drug paraphernalia in Dalton’s vehicle, but they did not specify what they located. Dalton smelled strongly of marijuana when picking up personal items from the vehicle at a tow lot in November, court documents state.

A judge issued an arrest warrant for Dalton on Jan. 21, and she apparently turned herself in on Feb. 2 at the El Paso County jail, according to court documents. She has since posted her $10,000 bond.

Dalton is scheduled to appear for her next hearing on Wednesday.