A quiet Colorado neighborhood turned into a nightmare when a 79-year-old grandfather mowing his lawn was struck and killed by a driver police say was under the influence.
Robert “Bob” Selle was riding his lawn mower in front of his Calhan home on Aug. 24, 2025, when a silver Subaru suddenly veered off the road, went airborne and slammed into him — all while his wife watched from inside the house, according to an arrest affidavit obtained.
Police say Selle’s wife saw the car speeding before it lifted into the air and crashed into her husband, sending him flying from the mower.
“She was watching him through the front window of their house when she observed a silver car, that appeared to be going too fast, become airborne, [and] hit her husband,” investigators wrote.
The Subaru, a 2016 Outback, allegedly launched over a driveway, hit a barbed wire fence and then barreled into Selle in the yard. Security footage from a neighbor’s camera reportedly captured the horrifying moment, showing the vehicle overturning before coming to rest on its roof.
Selle was initially conscious and able to speak with his wife after the crash. But police say he soon became unresponsive and died on the front lawn.
Amy Dalton, 37, has been charged in connection with the crash. Authorities allege she admitted to smoking marijuana before getting behind the wheel and told officers she uses marijuana daily. Police also claim she said she takes multiple medications and had recently tried methamphetamine for the first time.
Officers reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana coming from Dalton. According to the affidavit, data pulled from the vehicle’s airbag control module showed she never applied the brakes or attempted to steer away in the moments before impact.
Investigators say Dalton appeared “mellow” and not very responsive at the scene. One trooper noted her eyelids seemed “very heavy.”
Dalton allegedly blamed the crash on having two bad tires and said the steering felt “weird” and “funny.” A voluntary drug test reportedly revealed at least two substances in her system that authorities say contributed to the crash.
She was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, reckless driving and operating a vehicle without insurance. She is currently out on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 17.
Selle’s obituary paints a picture of a beloved husband, grandfather of five and community pillar. Friends and family described him as kind, generous and a role model.
Premeditated murder