A Texas man suspected of drunken driving suffered serious injuries Tuesday night after losing control of his vehicle on a mountain road north of Silverton and careening more than 130 feet up an embankment.
Colorado State Patrol Trooper Jeff Chmielewski said a white 2003 Dodge Ram was headed toward Silverton on San Juan County Road 2 at milepost 1 at an extremely high rate of speed around 10:30 p.m.
The driver lost control of the vehicle for more than 325 feet before skidding off the right side of the road.
The vehicle rolled about 130 feet up an embankment, “indicative of the extremely high rate of speed,” before coming to a rest on its roof, Chmielewski said.
The driver, identified as Ustlkeetoowah Davison, 41, of Odessa, Texas, suffered serious injuries.
A 22-year-old passenger from Silverton suffered serious injuries, and a 19-year-old female passenger from Durango suffered minor injuries.
Chmielewski said authorities are not releasing names of the passengers.
All three were transported to Mercy Regional Medical Center. A spokesman for Mercy said Davison was listed in fair condition Wednesday afternoon.
Alcohol and excessive speed are considered factors in the crash, which remained under investigation Wednesday, Chmielewski said. No one in the vehicle wore seat belts, he said.
No other cars were involved in the crash.
“The Colorado State Patrol would like to remind drivers that alcohol and driving never mix,” Chmielewski said. “Always, always wear your seat belt, and please ensure all occupants in your vehicle do the same.”
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, San Juan Fire & Rescue Authority and Silverton San Juan County Ambulance also responded to this crash.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
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