At least three single-vehicle crashes occurred in Montezuma County on snowpacked and slushy roads during Wednesday’s snowstorm, according to Sgt. James Saunders of the Colorado State Patrol.
At 7:45 a.m. on Colorado Highway 184, a westbound semitrailer slid off the snowpacked road on a curve west of the Skyline Food Mart and Gas station. The truck dropped over an embankment then jackknifed. There were no injuries, and the driver was cited for driving a vehicle improperly on a mountain highway.
At 3:40 p.m. on U.S. Highway 160, the driver of a westbound Toyota Tacoma slid off the right side of the road in slushy conditions near the rest stop east of Cortez. He collided with a speed limit sign. There were no injuries, and the driver was cited for careless driving.
At 5 p.m., on Colorado 184 near Mancos, a Ford Explorer slid across the road on off the east side of the highway in snowy conditions, then rolled 1¼ times. The driver was injured, but to what extent was not available. He was cited for careless driving.
All drivers and their passengers were wearing seat belts.
Saunders also reported the death of Colorado State Patrol Cpl. Daniel Groves, 52, who was killed while he investigated a crash in Weld County. Groves was fatally injured Wednesday on Interstate 76 when another vehicle lost control in blizzard conditions and hit him as he stood outside his vehicle. High speed in poor driving conditions was being investigated as a factor in Groves’ death.
Saunders urged drivers to slow down during snowy conditions “for your safety and ours.”
