Monday was a busy day for law enforcement and emergency services in Montezuma County.
Lewis-Arriola Fire Department responded to two calls early Monday afternoon regarding unreported controlled burns in close succession. The first was in the area of Road 25 and Road T.5. The caller stated that her neighbors were doing a burn, and that “her house was filled with smoke,” according to the computer-aided dispatch report generated for the call.
First responders arrived on scene just after 1:45 p.m. Monday and discovered a controlled burn that had gotten out of hand. According to the CAD, the responsible parties were dousing it with water. First responders advised the individuals that they need to report controlled burns to dispatch. The fire department helped put out the fire.
Lewis-Arriola requested mutual aid from Dolores Fire Protection District after being paged to a second call on Road U for reports of smoke just before 2 p.m.
The caller reported seeing smoke and flames, and was concerned about the hay shed and two homes nearby. When Lewis-Arriola arrived, they observed a small brush fire resulting from an “unattended burn,” the CAD said. The individuals burning were spraying water on it and turned down assistance from the firefighters. First responders cleared the scene by 3:09 p.m.
Just after 4 p.m., Cortez Police responded to a car versus bike crash at the intersection of Mildred Road and Main Street, according to a report written by officer Tyler Smith. The eastbound lane of Main Street was temporarily closed, according to public information officer Kelly Codner.
Upon arrival, Smith saw a female, identified as Cinead Salt, laying in the southeast part of the intersection of Main and Mildred. Community members stated that she may have hit her head “pretty hard,” the report said. EMS arrived and began patient care.
The driver was identified as Shandine John, who approached the intersection from the south on Mildred. Video footage from Durango Organics, 1013 E. Main St., showed John try to turn east on Main Street, not fully stopping at the red light. The bicyclist was crossing Mildred and hit the vehicle, a gray Ford Edge, as a result.
John was cited at the scene with failure to show proof of insurance and driving a motor vehicle with a suspended license. After viewing the video footage, Smith wrote in his report that he will request that the district attorney add a careless driving charge.
Smith spoke with Salt at the hospital. She complained of pain to her right arm and left knee, and the officer observed road rash on her knee. She stated she saw the Edge stop at the intersection as she started to cross, but that it proceeded to turn, “impacting her,” the report said.
