A 26-year-old woman broke into a Colorado State Patrol substation east of Cortez earlier this month and activated the fire alarm to seek emergency help after she rolled her Mazda 3 off U.S. Highway 160.
According to a Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office incident report, deputies did not file criminal charges against the driver, Iesha Atene, as she was attempting to seek help when she broke into the substation at 3:13 a.m. on Nov. 16. But CSP took over the crash investigation and charged Atene with reckless driving, failure to show proof of insurance and DUI.
CSP Trooper Gary Cutler said Atene was eastbound on U.S. 160 when she crossed the centerline and lost control. He said the vehicle went 70 feet off the right side of the road and rolled repeatedly through brush and trees for 293 feet.
“It looks like it was quite a crash because the engine dislodged from the vehicle during the crash,” Cutler said. “The car was sitting on top of the engine.”
The MCSO incident report states Atene pulled herself from the wreckage and walked or possibly crawled to the nearby Pueblo Community College Law Enforcement Academy, which houses a CSP substation. The building is less than 2 miles west from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park.
The incident report states she knocked on the door, but no one answered. She then picked up a rock and threw it into the front door glass panel and then pulled the fire alarm inside the building next to the door. Southwest EMS personnel treated Atene for injuries and told a deputy that she had a strong odor of alcohol.
She was transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital. Cutler said he did not have information about her injuries.
As to whether Atene made the right decision by breaking the glass door to pull the alarm, Cutler said CSP will always tell people that if they are injured or need emergency assistance, they should do what they can to get help as long as it does not endanger anyone.
“I mean, I wouldn’t suggest trying to break in, but if that is your last option, then you need to do what you can do to make sure you’re safe,” Cutler said.
sdolan@the-journal.com
