A Durango woman who was hit by a vehicle last week in north Durango died from her injuries on Tuesday at a hospital in Grand Junction, said La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith.
Katie Marie Siegrist, 27, was struck at about 7:45 p.m. Sept. 14 on Animas View Drive, according to the Durango Police Department. She was flown to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction in critical condition.
Police said it is believed Siegrist was walking north on Animas View Drive when a 1987 Jeep Wrangler traveling the same direction hit her from behind.
The driver, Olivia Marie Burkhart, 66, of Durango, told police she did not see the pedestrian until the last second. Police said it was raining at the time of the crash, and that section of road is not well-lit at night.
Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected to have played a role in the crash, and excessive speed is not suspected, said Durango police Cmdr. Deck Shaline.
Police were unable to determine exactly where Siegrist was walking on the road at the time of impact, making it difficult to establish probable cause to charge Burkhart with a driving offense.
No charges had been filed as of Wednesday, Shaline said.
Siegrist was wearing dark clothing with no flashlight or reflective material, he said.
Shaline said the police department is not blaming anyone for the accident. Rather, it is conveying the facts as they are known to law enforcement.
Police are unaware of any witnesses. If anyone did witness the incident, they are asked to call dispatch at 385-2900.
A family member of Siegrist’s declined to comment for this story.
shane@durangoherald.com
