One fatality and three injuries in two-car accident near CB South

Names not yet released

By Mark Reaman

A two-vehicle crash late Sunday evening on Highway 135 resulted in the death of a male and injuries to three others. While details remain scarce because a Colorado State Patrol report is not yet complete, CSP trooper Gabriel Moltrer said the accident occurred about 9:51 p.m. on Sunday, January 7 and alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the crash.

According to the report filed as of Tuesday afternoon, a Toyota Sienna was heading northbound on Highway 135 at about mile marker 18 when the Sienna crossed the center line and struck a Subaru Outback. The driver of the Sienna was a 31-year-old male and he was pronounced dead at the scene. A 41-year-old and a 23-year-old passenger in the Sienna both suffered what Moltrer described as “life threatening injuries” and they were transported to the Gunnison Valley Hospital. None of them were ejected from the Sienna.

The driver of the Outback, a 31-year-old male heading south on Highway 135 suffered “serious injuries” and was also transported to the hospital. He was wearing a seatbelt. 

The Sienna ended up facing west and blocked the north bound lane. The Outback ended up facing west on the edge of the road.

Moltrer said that “At this time alcohol is suspected to have played a part in the accident. At this time, excessive speed is not suspected.”

Names and residences of the people involved in the accident have not yet been filed with the CSP report.

The road was closed to traffic for more than two hours and reopened just after midnight.