According to authorities, a wrong-way collision near Las Animas left one woman dead and three people seriously injured. The July 5 incident reportedly involved two vehicles on Highway 50 at about 10:00 a.m.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, a 23-year-old man from Florida was driving east on the highway when he traversed the centerline and crashed into a westbound Ford truck. The 18-year-old driver of the Ford reportedly attempted to avoid the collision to no avail. As a result of the collision, the Ford truck caromed off the road, where it crashed into a fence and rolled over.
While the driver of the Ford truck suffered minor injuries in the crash, a 62-year-old female passenger in the vehicle was killed in the collision. Emergency personnel airlifted two other passengers in the Ford truck, a 56-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman, to a hospital for treatment of injuries that officials described as serious. The 23-year-old driver of the first vehicle also suffered serious injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
Police indicated that the accident remains under investigation. However, they did report that neither alcohol nor speed appear to have been factors in the crash. It was not clear immediately following the incident whether police issued any citations or filed any charges in connection with the event.
If the people who suffered damages in connection with this accident were to consider pursuing civil action as a consequence, they would have to prove to a civil court that another party’s actionable behavior caused the crash.In Colorado, people who suffer losses as a result of traffic accidents caused by reckless or negligent drivers may be entitled to financial compensation via civil action.
For example, certain family members of deceased accident victims may file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. If successful, the bereaved family members might be awarded restitution for the expenses associated with the decedent’s funeral service and estate administration as well as for other damages.
Source: Fox 21, “One dead, three injured in Bent County crash”, FOX21 Continuous News Desk, July 05, 2014