A Jeep Grand Cherokee ended up in a snowbank at the parking lot of Jimmer’s Backcountry BBQ on Tuesday after the driver’s dog jumped into her lap, causing her to lose control of the vehicle.
She veered off Main Street, swiped a Chevrolet Suburban parked at the Cork N Bottle liquor store and collided with a water and ice station.
At least four Cortez Police Department vehicles responded to the Jimmer’s lot about 3:10 p.m. Police Sgt. Brandon Gunderson said police believe the driver, Sandra Montano of Cortez, was westbound on Main Street.
Jonathan Rivera, an employee at the Aqua Car Wash, said the Grand Cherokee hit the Suburban at the liquor store and drove into the snowbank.
“I thought somebody had a health issue or something,” Rivera said.
After swiping the Suburban and pushing it into the railing at the Cork N Bottle, the Grand Cherokee hit a water and ice station in Jimmer’s lot, turning it about 90 degrees, before continuing in a U-turn pattern from Main Street and stopping in a snowbank in the lot.
According to police Lt. Andy Brock, one of Montano’s two dogs jumped into her lap and caused her to lose control of the vehicle. She faces a charge of careless driving.
She was checked by a Southwest Health System EMS crew but wasn’t injured. She remained on scene with her dogs.
Police interviewed her, and a K9 performed a sniff test around the vehicle. Drug or alcohol use was not suspected.