The Colorado State Patrol continues to investigate why a casino bus headed to Gilpin County gambling towns crossed the center line Thursday, setting off a chain-reaction crash that sent 10 people to the hospital.
Bus driver Ralph Hicok, 68, was seriously injured in the crash. Investigators need to interview him before they can determine an accident cause, said Master Trooper Ron Watkins of the state patrol.
The bus was northbound 4 miles south of Black Hawk on Colorado 119 when it veered into the oncoming lane. Watkins said a southbound 1994 Subaru station wagon came around a blind curve.
The car’s driver managed to avoid the bus, but the vehicle spun out on the gravel shoulder and hit a motorcycle traveling behind the bus.
Watkins said a utility truck registered to Cummins Rocky Mountain LLC of Henderson was behind the Subaru and struck the bus nearly head-on. The truck driver was identified as Chad Morgan, 30.
Hicok and Morgan were transported by medical helicopter. Six of the 13 bus passengers, the Subaru driver and the motorcyle rider were taken to metro-area hospitals by ambulance.
Most injuries were minor to moderate, Watkins said.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
