A high-speed car chase that started in La Plata County ended early Tuesday with a woman’s death, according to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office posted to its Facebook page that deputies responded to the chase early Tuesday on U.S. Highway 550, on the La Plata County side.
Deputies stopped the vehicle near mile marker 67, north of Molas Lake. The highway was closed as a result of the investigation and opened around 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to CoTrip.org.
The Sheriff’s Office declined calls from the media, so it’s unclear what transpired after the vehicle was stopped.
The Facebook post says the female driver ultimately died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Undersheriff Steve Lowrance was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center “with facial wounds received while trying to prevent the driver from her actions,” according to the Facebook post.
Lowrance was in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery, the Sheriff’s Office said.
According to the post, two passengers in the vehicle were taken into custody and taken to the La Plata County Jail.
The Sheriff’s Office said it is not yet releasing names of those involved.
The Sheriff’s Office also wrote that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is taking over the incident.
A CBI spokeswoman said Tuesday morning she did not have additional information to provide about the incident, which remained under investigation.
Heather Walls, a Hermosa resident, said a line of 15 cars were backed up on the southern end of Highway 550, just north of Purgatory Resort, around 8 a.m.
Walls said Colorado Department of Transportation crews told her the highway was closed a little before 6 a.m. She arrived at the closure around 6:45 a.m. headed for Montana.
A spokeswoman with CDOT did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
This is a developing story. Check back with www.durangoherald.com for updates.
jromeo@durangoherald.com