Durango, CO (October 24, 2024) – A tragic two-vehicle crash west of Durango claimed the life of a local man and left his wife with serious injuries on Wednesday afternoon.
The collision happened at approximately 2:40 p.m. on U.S. Highway 160 in the 15000 block, at mile marker 77, near the Durango West II subdivision. The accident involved a semi-truck transporting a Walmart trailer and a 2015 Toyota Corolla.
La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith identified the deceased as 72-year-old Joseph Monahan. His wife, Nancy Monahan, also 72, was airlifted to a hospital in Grand Junction for emergency surgery.
According to Capt. Angela DeGuelle of the Colorado State Patrol, Joseph Monahan was driving westbound on Highway 160 when his vehicle drifted into the eastbound lane, striking the oncoming truck. Despite efforts by the truck driver to avoid the crash by swerving, the impact could not be prevented.
Authorities are uncertain why Monahan veered into oncoming traffic, but there is no suspicion of alcohol or drug involvement. A third vehicle behind the Toyota was also involved in the crash, but no major injuries were reported from that collision.
The highway was closed at 3:05 p.m., with traffic rerouted onto Wildcat Canyon Road and La Plata Highway. U.S. Highway 160 remained closed for about five hours, reopening around 8 p.m. after authorities cleared the scene.
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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE
- The information in this article is based on initial reports from local authorities and may be subject to updates as investigations continue.
- The identities of those involved in the incident have not been released pending official confirmation and notification of next of kin.
- Further details about the accident, including toxicology results and potential charges, will be shared as they become available.
- Road closures and traffic updates related to the accident scene can be found by checking with local authorities or traffic monitoring services.
The content of this news story is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. All information is based on public reports at the time of publication, and details may change as investigations progress. Readers are encouraged to seek legal counsel if they or someone they know have been involved in a similar incident. The publisher assumes no liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this article. Learn more with our disclaimer.
