A man is tragically dead following a serious two-vehicle accident near the town of Wellington, according to local sources. Colorado State Patrol has confirmed the death of the 37-year-old man, as well as injury suffered by a 71-year-old woman. For the moment, police are unsure what caused the crash, but as with any car accidents causing fatalities, they will continue to investigate until a cause is found.
According to the report, around 6:30 on the evening of March 28, the victim was driving a minivan on the frontage road of Interstate 25 northbound when the accident occurred. For some reason, the vehicle became involved in a crash with a pickup truck driven by a 71-year-old woman. The force of the impact was enough to kill the driver of the minivan.
The driver of the pickup truck reportedly suffered minor injuries, though it is unclear whether she was treated on the scene or taken to a hospital. Police closed the road for some four hours to aid in their investigation. They do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, and while it was snowing at the time of the accident, there was no indication of slick roads. Their investigation remains underway.
Depending on the outcome of this investigation by Colorado authorities, criminal charges may yet be filed against the surviving driver. If the deceased driver is found to be responsible, no charges are filed posthumously. However, legal recourse in car accidents of this type is available in both scenarios. State law allows the filing of wrongful death suits against a surviving driver deemed responsible for a crash, and of personal injury suits against the deceased driver’s estate.