A woman with severe head and internal injuries survived 4 1/2 days pinned under the 250-pound body of her dead boyfriend after their car rolled and landed on its side just 30 feet from a heavily traveled highway, authorities said Saturday.
The Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which crashed early Oct. 16 about 5 miles east of Delta, wasn’t discovered because its undercarriage faced the roadway and blended in with trees, buildings and scrap metal, said Cpl. Duane Larson, Colorado State Patrol spokesman.
Amy Thompson, 27, had no food or water and had only the company of her Chesapeake Bay retriever, who also survived the crash, Larson said.
“We thank God that she is alive,” said Raymond Lecuyer of Delta, a friend of Thompson’s. “It’s an amazing story, for sure.”
The wreck was discovered Thursday after a passer-by called authorities.
That same person told the State Patrol he had seen the vehicle Tuesday but hadn’t realized it was a recent wreck.
Thompson’s boyfriend, Christopher Miller, 37, was killed, Larson said. The slim woman was hidden by his body and was discovered only after her car was tipped back onto all four wheels and Miller’s body shifted off her.
When first discovered, Thompson could only coherently say that her name was Amy and give a few yes-no answers, Larson said. She was reported in fair condition Saturday at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction.
“She’s one tough cookie,” said Lecuyer, adding that Thompson is a waitress in her hometown of El Jebel. “Not many people could have survived that.”
Lecuyer said Thompson does not remember many details about what happened and still may not know that her boyfriend was killed.
State Patrol officials are investigating whether alcohol or drugs contributed to the rollover, Larson said.
The couple began a trip to Durango on Oct. 15, he said. Early the next morning, Thompson was driving west on Colorado 92 at about 80 mph – 15 miles over the speed limit – when she lost control of the car as the road curved to the right.
The Monte Carlo went off the left side of the road and hit a tree, causing it to roll onto the driver’s side, Larson said.
Neither Thompson nor Miller was wearing a seat belt, and he fell on top of her, according to the State Patrol.
Authorities arrived on the scene just after 4 p.m. Thursday. The retriever barked at approaching emergency workers but settled down when an animal- control officer got the dog out of the car, Larson said.
When a tow truck righted the car on all four wheels, emergency workers heard moaning and saw movement.
Thompson’s shoulders were moving slightly.
Medical workers believe she moved very little for four days and probably was in and out of consciousness, Larson said.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
