A Durango woman has been charged with careless driving causing death as the result of a head-on crash that killed her 8-year-old daughter.
Neysha Candelaria, 32, also is charged with not using proper restraints for the five children who were in the minivan she was driving at the time of the April 18 crash.
Candelaria was driving a 2005 blue Chevrolet Uplander north on La Plata Highway (Colorado Highway 140) just before 8:30 a.m. when she hit a patch of snow and ice and crossed the center line into on-coming traffic and collided head-on with a 2009 Kia Sorento, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
Excessive speed appears to have played a role, troopers said.
At least three of the five children, ages 1, 5, 7, 8 and 9, were thrown from the van, according to the State Patrol.
Mia Martinez died at the scene of the crash, about 1.6 miles north of the New Mexico border. Two children were seriously injured, and two others were treated for minor injuries.
The driver of the Kia, Mindy Walck, 38, of Hesperus, was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center. She could not be immediately reached Friday for comment.
Efforts to reach Candelaria for comment were unsuccessful Friday.
Her next court appearance is set for Aug. 30.
shane@durangoherald.com
