Longmont man accused of causing 2023 crash accepts plea deal

A Longmont man who reportedly drove under the influence and caused a three-vehicle crash in 2023 has agreed to a plea deal and is scheduled for sentencing on Monday, according to the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office.

Douglas Potter, 35, was arrested on two counts of vehicular assault – careless driving; two counts of vehicular assault – DUI; possession of a firearm under the influence of alcohol; DUI; driving without insurance; having an open container of marijuana in the vehicle and displaying expired plates.

Potter pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree assault and driving under the influence per se, according to Boulder County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Shannon Carbone. All remaining charges were dismissed.

According to Carbone, sentencing is scheduled for Monday at 10:30 a.m. Carbone said one of the terms of the plea deal was 12 years in prison.

The affidavit shows Potter was injured in a crash that involved five people – including one trapped in a vehicle – on June 11, 2023, near Ken Pratt Boulevard and South Hover Street. One person was trapped in the vehicle

The Longmont Fire Department extinguished the fire and extricated the driver from the vehicle, according to the statement.

Police found Potter unconscious in the Lexus, lying on its side. He was taken to UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital.

Witnesses told police they saw the Lexus traveling at a high rate of speed and also saw the vehicle overturn in the center lane and collide head-on with a Dodge truck.

On the day of the accident, Potter said he was playing paintball at the American Paintball Coliseum in Denver and left around 4 p.m. to go to Longmont. He also stated that he had been drinking at the facility and “did not state the appropriate amount, but indicated that in paintball, not drinking too much is a big deal,” according to the statement.

Potter told police he had an AR-15 rifle and two handguns in the car because he was going to shoot. However, due to the weather, he could not go. According to the statement, police found various types of ammunition, three firearms and marijuana concentrate at the scene of the accident.

Officers noted that Potter’s blood alcohol content was 0.178, more than twice the legal limit.