Two people were taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center with serious injuries Wednesday morning after a crash on U.S. Highway 160 between Durango and Bayfield. Three vehicles were involved.
Daniel R. Holley, 28, of Mancos, was driving a 2008 Nissan pickup eastbound on Highway 160 when, for unknown reasons, he swerved into the westbound lane and sideswiped a 2014 Toyota mini-van driven by Tracey Mosher, 34, of Bayfield, said Trooper Randy Talbot, with the Colorado State Patrol.
Mosher swerved to avoid the collision. She and three children, ages 7 months, 2 years and 4 years, escaped without injury.
The pickup spun out of control and collided with a Subaru station wagon driven by 64-year-old Lee J. McCutcheon of Bayfield. That sent McCutcheon’s Subaru spinning off the south side of the road where it overturned onto its top, Talbot said.
Holley and McCutcheon were alone in their vehicles. Everyone involved was wearing a seat belt, and the kids were in child-restraint seats in the backseat, Talbot said. The crash happened around 8:15 a.m. near Lon’s Automotive, about four miles west of Bayfield.
Upper Pine Fire Protection District responded. Holley was taken to Mercy before being flown to a Denver hospital with head injuries. McCutcheon was taken to Mercy with a broken leg and other injuries. Talbot considered Holley to have the worst injuries. McCutcheon was in “fair” condition Wednesday afternoon, said David Bruzzese, spokesman with the hospital.
The highway was closed for about 1½ hours, Talbot said. Traffic was diverted onto County Road 223. The crash scene was strewn with debris.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the State Patrol was still investigating what caused the pickup to cross into oncoming traffic.
“At this time, alcohol isn’t suspected,” Talbot said.
