Grand Junction,CO: Fatal, fiery crash that killed driver still under scrutiny on October, Monday 30th 2017

A fiery crash that left one man dead, closed down Colorado Highway 340 for hours and knocked out power, cable and internet for residents in the area last month is still under investigation.

Little has been released about the accident that happened late the night of Oct. 10, but documents requested from the Grand Junction Police Department indicate investigators believe they know who died in the crash. The man’s identity has not been released by police or the Mesa County Coroner, who said he has a “good idea” of the driver’s identity but is attempting to obtain confirmation through DNA analysis, which takes weeks.

The call for the crash came in just before midnight. Emergency responders were unable to extricate the driver, who was killed in the vehicle fire that ignited after the crash.

Though the cause of the accident is not immediately clear from available reports, it happened when a gold 2006 Chrysler 300 with Colorado license plates was traveling west on the Redlands highway near 22 1/2 Road when it left the pavement. According to accident reports, the car hit a sign in front of Broadway Elementary School but kept going more than 300 feet, struck a utility pole with enough force to shear it off at ground level and came to rest on top of the broken pole stump on the northeast corner of Village Way and the highway. The car then caught fire with the driver inside.

The accident report indicates police didn’t find skid marks at the scene, which would normally be documented as an accident avoidance maneuver if they existed.

The officer who filled out the accident report indicated he believed alcohol was involved in the crash.



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Fatal, fiery crash that killed driver still under scrutiny