A Colorado woman has been sentenced to prison for killing a motorcyclist in a DUI-related crash. Kalynn Settle, 30, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and possession of a controlled substance – cocaine, following the fatal crash on June 14, 2025, that claimed the life of 41-year-old Aaron Barone.
Incident and Arrest Details
The tragic incident occurred at the intersection of North Seventh Street and Bunting Avenue in Grand Junction. Settle, a registered nurse, initially told police that she had stopped to help because another individual, whom she described as a “Mexican lady,” had struck the motorcycle.
However, police officers quickly observed blood and human flesh on Settle’s car, leading them to suspect her involvement in the crash.
Upon further investigation, officers noticed a strong odor of alcohol on Settle’s breath. She refused to perform sobriety tests, prompting law enforcement to obtain warrants for a blood draw and a search of her vehicle.
Inside her car, authorities discovered alcohol, prescription medication, a burnt glass pipe, a baggie of white powder (which tested positive for ketamine), and a white crystal substance (which tested positive for cocaine). Settle’s blood test confirmed the presence of both cocaine and alcohol in her system.
Sentencing and Court Proceedings
This week, 21st Judicial District Judge JenniLynne Lawrence sentenced Settle to six years in prison for the vehicular homicide charge and one year for drug possession. The sentences will run concurrently. Settle faced her consequences with a different tone at the sentencing hearing, tearfully stating, “On that day, I made a choice I can never undo.”
During the hearing, Barone’s father spoke out, expressing his grief over his son’s death: “He worked hard his entire life, only to have it cut short by an act of irresponsibility.”
Prosecutor’s and Judge’s Remarks
Prosecutor Joshua Dougherty asked for a five- or six-year sentence, highlighting Settle’s lack of true remorse and her missed drug tests during the pretrial process. Judge Lawrence initially considered a sentence of community supervision, where Settle could have avoided prison, but was swayed by Settle’s behavior, including missed drug tests, which the judge saw as indicative of an addict trying to avoid responsibility.
“These are not the behaviors of a sober person,” Judge Lawrence said, adding, “You still have choices you can make that can improve the outcome for you.”
Conclusion and Ongoing Consequences
Settle will now spend the maximum amount of time behind bars, serving as a cautionary example of the consequences of impaired driving. Her sentence serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of DUI crashes, and the lifelong grief they cause to victims’ families.
