California hockey mom discharged after deadly Colorado crash

Brenda Greenwald was the last patient injured in the I-70 crash to leave the hospital.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Brenda Greenwald, a California hockey mom, was discharged from Denver Health hospital on Tuesday, 12 days after being injured in a deadly crash on Interstate 70 in Colorado. Greenwald was traveling with her three children and a hockey team to a tournament when their van was struck by a snow plow, killing another parent, Manny Lorenzana, who was driving the van. Greenwald suffered multiple injuries but credits Lorenzana with saving the lives of the others in the van.

Why it matters

The crash on I-70 highlighted the dangers of winter driving conditions and the risks faced by youth sports teams traveling long distances for tournaments. It also showcased the heroic actions of Manny Lorenzana, who shielded the other passengers in the van from the full force of the impact, sacrificing his own life.

The details

Greenwald was in the back of the van playing cards with some of the girls on the hockey team, while her three children - 13-year-old daughter Emily, 11-year-old son Joshua, and 9-year-old son Matt - were watching a movie in the seats behind her. When the snow plow struck the van, Greenwald remembers seeing it coming and then the vehicle rolling down the hill. She was able to get out of the van and check on her children, but her memory of the incident becomes hazy after that. Joshua was the most seriously injured child and was airlifted to Children's Hospital Colorado, while Emily and Matt went to Denver Health along with Greenwald.

  • On January 29, the van carrying the California hockey team was struck by a snow plow on Interstate 70 in Colorado.
  • Brenda Greenwald was discharged from Denver Health hospital on February 11, 2026, 12 days after the crash.

The players

Brenda Greenwald

A California hockey mom who was injured in the deadly I-70 crash in Colorado while traveling with her three children and a hockey team to a tournament.

Manny Lorenzana

The hockey parent from the Santa Clarita Lady Flyers who was driving the van when it was struck by the snow plow, and who the Greenwald family believes is the reason the others survived the crash.

Joshua Greenwald

Brenda Greenwald's 11-year-old son, who was the most seriously injured child in the crash and was airlifted to Children's Hospital Colorado.

Emily Greenwald

Brenda Greenwald's 13-year-old daughter, who was on the hockey team and sat in the back of the van with her mother during the crash.

Matt Greenwald

Brenda Greenwald's 9-year-old son, who was also in the van during the crash and went to Denver Health with his mother.

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What they’re saying

“He literally took the brunt of everything, and I believe he is the reason that the rest of us are around. So I owe him everything.”

— Brenda Greenwald (CBS News)

“I was told it was bad. No one told how bad other than it was a horrible accident, and (Joshua) had to be airlifted.”

— Jason Greenwald (CBS News)

“I cried. I cried. I'm so proud of them. Those girls, they're amazing.”

— Brenda Greenwald (CBS News)

What’s next

The Greenwald family is now back home in California, where they will continue to recover from their injuries and have discussions with their children about the traumatic incident. Joshua Greenwald, the most seriously injured child, was discharged from Children's Hospital Colorado last week.

The takeaway

This tragic crash serves as a sobering reminder of the risks faced by youth sports teams traveling long distances, especially in challenging winter driving conditions. However, the heroic actions of Manny Lorenzana, who sacrificed himself to protect the other passengers, also highlight the power of community and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.