Boy, 7, killed in San Miguel County crash

3 others injured when SUV goes off road, strikes tree
A 7-year-old boy was killed and three other people were injured Sunday when this SUV went off Colorado Highway 145 near Norwood and struck a tree.

A 7-year-old Norwood boy was killed and three other people were seriously injured Sunday evening in a single-vehicle crash in San Miguel Canyon near Norwood, according to a release from the San Miguel Sheriff’s Office.

The boy, identified as Jeremiah Rock, died at the scene.

A Ford Explorer driven by Carissa Banks, 23, of Ridgway, was headed east on Colorado Highway 145 about 6:30 p.m. when it went off the right side of the road and down a steep embankment, striking multiple trees, said Trooper Nate Reid with the Colorado State Patrol.

She was taken to Montrose Memorial Hospital with serious injuries, he said.

Also injured in the crash was Chelsie Falk, 27, of Norwood, and a 10-year-old girl from Norwood. Both were seriously injured, and they were flown to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Reid said.

A 2-year-old Norwood girl was not injured, and she was released to her father at the scene, the San Miguel Sheriff’s Office said.

Norwood is about 30 miles northwest of Telluride.

“Fatalities are always horrible, but when a child is killed, it’s particularly tragic, said San Miguel Sheriff Bill Masters.

“On behalf of all of the agencies that responded to this incident, our thoughts are with the family at this most difficult time.”

San Miguel County Sheriff’s deputies, Norwood EMS and Fire, Telluride Fire Protection District, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol and two helicopters responded to the incident, which occurred near mile marker 93 just outside of Norwood.

The State Patrol is investigating the incident.

This article was updated to correct the age of the boy who died and add new information.

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