Two people were killed in a head-on car crash that shut down several lanes of Interstate 70 Tuesday night.
Authorities were still trying to extract the bodies from the badly burned vehicles, which police determined had one person in each car, said Colorado State Patrol Master Trooper Ron Watkins.
“The victims were burned beyond recognition,” Watkins said. “And whoever they were … , they were trapped in the vehicles and we’re still trying to get them out.”
The crash occurred about 7 p.m., and lanes of I-70 were shut down for several hours.
Investigators believe excessive speed led the driver of an eastbound 2002 Honda to lose control between the Lookout Mountain and Genesee exits.
The Honda crossed the median and smashed into a 2005 Subaru in the westbound lanes, Watkins said. Both vehicles burst into flames.
More Local News Briefings
AURORA
More tests set to find cause of tot’s death
The Adams County coroner’s office could not determine the cause of death of a 17-month-old girl who died in a family day care on Dec. 12.
There were no obvious signs of trauma or illness on Abria Mingo’s body, Aurora police Detective Robert Friel said Tuesday.
Microscopic tests and a toxicology screen must be conducted to help determine a cause of death. Those tests could take up to six weeks to complete.
Abria stopped breathing at the day-care center at 1740 Del Mar Parkway and died at Children’s Hospital.
DENVER
Rosa Linda’s forced
to cancel holiday feast
A death in the family forced the owners of Rosa Linda’s Mexican Café in northwest Denver to cancel its annual Christmas Eve feast for the needy after 21 consecutive years.
Owner Rosa Linda Aguirre could not be reached.
Donations for the annual event are to be distributed at a date to be chosen, the family’s statement said. The event is expected to resume next year.
DENVER
Feds say wildflower will get no protection
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has withdrawn a proposal to grant federal protection to the Graham’s beardtongue, a wildflower that grows in Colorado and Utah.
About 60 percent of the plant’s population grows on land administered by the federal Bureau of Land Management, the agency estimates.
Service officials said the BLM has been able to mitigate oil and gas development that might otherwise threaten the wildflower, which is a member of the snapdragon family.
Several Western environmental groups, including the Denver-based Center for Native Ecosystems, criticized the federal agency’s decision, saying energy development is already harming the plant.
AURORA
Homeless man dies
at detention facility
Aurora police are investigating the death of a homeless man Friday morning at the Aurora Detention Center.
Preliminary indications are that Karl Waugh Salcito, 46, suffered a seizure while in custody, officials said.
He had a blood-alcohol level of 0.206, more than double the legal limit for driving, when he was arrested 16 hours before he was found dead.
Officials found Salcito unconscious and unresponsive in his cell at 8:27 a.m. He was admitted to the detention center at 4:30 p.m. Thursday for public intoxication and for multiple failure-to-appear warrants on alcohol-related charges.
Although he was drunk when he was arrested, he was talkative and alert and did not require medical attention, authorities said.
DENVER
All-mail municipal ballot set for May 1
After overseeing a disastrous November election, the Denver Election Commission voted Tuesday to conduct an all-mail ballot municipal election on May 1.
If a runoff is needed, voters will cast mail ballots as well. The runoff would be scheduled for June 5.
The Denver City Council gave initial approval Monday to a Jan. 30 special election aimed at overhauling the Election Commission. If final approval is given, ballots will be mailed to addresses on file with the city as of Dec. 29.
LOVELAND
One driver killed, two hurt in head-on crash
The driver of a 1993 Jeep Wrangler was killed in a head-on crash early Tuesday on U.S. 287 north of 57th Street.
Investigators said the Jeep was traveling north when the driver lost control and traveled into the southbound lane, colliding with a 1997 GMC Sierra pickup.
The Jeep’s driver was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
The person’s name was not released pending notification of family.
The driver of the GMC was identified as David S. Ritchie, 52, of Greeley.
Ritchie was wearing a seat belt, the State Patrol said.
He was taken to McKee Medical Center with moderate injuries.
A passenger in Ritchie’s truck, Kirk Anamier, 51, of Greeley was seriously injured. Anamier was not wearing a seat belt, according to the State Patrol.
CENTENNIAL
Teen accused in death of sister to stay in jail
James David Meyer, the 15-year-old accused of killing his sister and burning the family garage to mask the crime, will spend Christmas in jail.
A hearing on bail and the evidence against him was postponed Tuesday morning until Jan. 8, for further testing.
Meyer has been in jail since August. His sister, Jessica Meyer, 13, died June 7.
Her body was found in the family garage, which had been set ablaze. James was found later at a neighbor’s house playing video games, police said.
Defense attorney Jim Mc Knight said James was doing well with his court-appointed tutor, with help from the Littleton School District.
