The Durango Police Department on Tuesday identified the driver of an SUV who was killed in a single-vehicle crash on north Main Avenue.
Carlos Alexander, 40, of Durango was driving southbound in the 3700 block of Main Avenue when he went off the right side of the road and plowed into a city transit stop with a covered shelter, according to police. The impact destroyed the transit stop shelter and killed Alexander on impact.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation Tuesday night, said Cmdr. Ray Shupe, spokesman with the police department. He said investigators will likely need to examine the internal computer in the Chevrolet Tahoe to learn more.
“We’re not exactly sure what happened with everything,” Shupe said. “... We don’t think that there was a mechanical issue or anything with the vehicle, but we’ll know more once we analyze the computer in it.”
A witness who had just crossed Main Avenue before the crash said the driver swerved multiple times as if he was over-correcting to prevent a crash. He estimated the vehicle was traveling about 60 mph in a 35 mph zone.
“We believe certainly that speed was a factor in the accident,” Shupe said. “... We didn’t find any kind of skid marks or anything, so we don’t think he applied the brakes at all.”
Police also suspect alcohol played a role, saying empty containers of alcohol were found in the vehicle.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday. After that, it will take two or three weeks for toxicology reports to be returned, at which time police will know for sure whether alcohol was involved, Shupe said.
The crash occurred about 7:35 p.m. Monday near the Hampton Inn in north Durango.
Two men who were first at the scene said they tried to render aid to Alexander, but he was beyond help.
“Thankfully, nobody was at the trolley stop,” Shupe said.
shane@durangoherald.com
