Five injured in possible distracted driving crash

This four-vehicle crash just east of Monte Vista Thursday sent five people to hospitals, two with life-threatening injuries. Photo courtesy of Colorado State Patrol

Two with life-threatening injuries

MONTE VISTA– Distracted driving is suspected to be a contributing factor in a four-vehicle crash Thursday just east of Monte Vista that sent five people to hospitals, two with life-threatening injuries, according to Colorado State Patrol (CSP).

All four vehicles involved were eastbound on U.S. 160 about 3:30 p.m., the first three stopped in a construction zone when they were struck from behind by the fourth vehicle driven by a juvenile in a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado pickup. The truck collided with a 2019 Jeep Compass driven by Rosa Felix with her passenger Oscar Gutierrez, both of Monte Vista.

The impact forced the Compass into a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Luz Aguilera-Villa from Alamosa, which then was forced into a 2017 Buick Envision driven by Courtney Petek of Grand Junction. All vehicles were heavily damaged in the collision and all parties involved were transported to SLV Health in Alamosa.

Felix and Gutierrez were later flown out with critical injuries. The juvenile and Aguilera-Villa and Petek parties sustained minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by CSP.


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