A Mancos man has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide after hydroplaning into oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 160 last month, hitting a vehicle with a family of four and killing two.
Anthony Rodriquez, 36, was also charged with two counts of vehicular assault, according to Colorado State Patrol Cpt. Adrian Driscoll. All four charges are felonies.
“We worked hand in hand with the District Attorney’s office on these charges and have built a strong case against Mr. Rodriguez,” Driscoll said.
The crash occurred around 5:15 p.m. July 20, just east of the Montezuma-La Plata County line at mile marker 68 and west of Hesperus, near the Cherry Creek area.
According to authorities, Rodriguez was traveling west in a Nissan Armada when a sudden downpour caused his vehicle to hydroplane into the eastbound lane and strike head-on a Honda Pilot with a family of four.
Driscoll said alcohol and drugs are not suspected as factors in the crash. However, “excessive speed was definitely an issue,” he said.
Rodriguez did not have insurance, Driscoll said. He is scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 19.
As a result of the crash, two people in the Honda Pilot died: Robert Streett, 52, who died at the scene; and his 16-year-old son Robby, who died after being transported to Mercy Regional Medical Center.
Streett’s wife, Josslyn, 49, was airlifted to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood and 14-year-old Sawyer was taken to Mercy.
The Streetts are from Sequim, Washington – about a two-hour drive northwest of Seattle.
According to Shenna Younger, a family friend, the Streetts had flown into Phoenix to purchase a new car and then to take a road trip to Robert Streett’s family reunion in Pagosa Springs.
The Streetts first stopped in Sedona, Arizona, and also visited the Grand Canyon. The family then visited the Four Corners Monument before heading on U.S. Highway 160 to Pagosa Springs for the family reunion.
Younger said Robert owned a local business in Sequim and was an active member of the community. His son Robby was set to enter junior year at Sequim High School.
Younger said Sawyer is out of the hospital and back in Sequim, but he’ll be in a wheelchair for another month or so as he recovers from an ankle surgery.
Josslyn remains at St. Anthony’s, Younger said, but is expected to recover from her injuries.
Josslyn and her son Sawyer briefly reunited after the crash, and now talk on the phone every day, Younger said.
“It’s going to be a long recovery, emotionally,” Younger said. “They lost half their family. I don’t think anyone can fully recover from that.”
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with the Streett family’s medical expenses at www.gofundme.com/street-family-support-fund.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
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