A 38-year-old Texas man died Sunday night after driving off U.S. Highway 550, about 9 miles north of the Colorado-New Mexico border.
Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis said authorities received a report of the crash around 8 p.m., near Sunnyside Elementary School.
Lewis said a 2009 GMC pickup truck was traveling south on Highway 550 when the vehicle went off the right side of the road, collided with a sign and rolled. The man driving the car was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected, Lewis said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Colorado State Patrol Capt. Adrian Driscoll said next of kin had been notified as of Monday afternoon. He identified the man as Adilson Palacios-Mejia of Dallas.
Lewis said alcohol is being investigated as a possible factor in the crash.
No other cars or people were involved in the incident, he said.
In a separate crash around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, a 21-year-old Ignacio man was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center with serious injuries after driving off U.S. Highway 160 near Three Springs.
Lewis said a 2003 Chevy pickup truck was headed east on Highway 160 when it went off the left side of the road near mile marker 89, struck a light pole and fence, and then rolled, coming to rest on the passenger side.
The driver, identified as Jamie Vining, was wearing a seat belt. Speed and alcohol are being investigated as possible factors, Lewis said.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
