Alcohol suspected in fatal I-70 crash
By Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 20, 2008 at 10:38 a.m.
Updated July 20, 2008 at 10:38 a.m.
Alcohol is suspected in a crash that killed a 19-year-old man Friday night along I-70 in Eagle County, the Colorado State Patrol said today.
Investigators said Jose De Jesus Trinidad-Esparza died after being ejected from a 1999 Ford Expedition after the driver, 20-year-old Lenora Hernandez, lost control in a curve on westbound I-70.
The vehicle, carrying eight people, rolled twice after going off the right side of the highway.
Seven people suffered minor injuries and were treated at and released from Vail Valley Medical Center.
Hernandez and a female passenger were the only ones wearing seatbelts.
State patrol officers arrested Hernandez, who listed Avon as an address but who is in the United State illegally, authorities said. She faces charges including vehicular homicide, careless driving causing bodily injuries, driving under the influence, and driving without a driver's license.
A passenger, Karen Rosales, 22, of Edwards, was found to have a $5,000 arrest warrant on assault and weapons charges, officials said.
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July 20, 2008
11:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
coloradoan writes:
Gosh, the name of the victim is sure a mouthful to say. Are they from Europe?
July 20, 2008
11:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
OMG the RMN actually printed that the perp was an ILLEGAL ALIEN!!
Is this progress or what??
July 20, 2008
11:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
redwhiteandBLUE writes:
And the eight people jam packed in the vehicle ..where were they from..?
July 20, 2008
12:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
awhite411 writes:
How much did that hospital bill costs the Colorado Tax Payer?
July 20, 2008
12:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
raoul writes:
where's the "net economic benefit" of illegals in this story?
Drunk illegal smuggler in jail (+1)
Passenger known to like weapons in jail (+1)
Free medical care to 7 smugglees (-1)
one up for law-abiding, insurance-paying real Americans