FRISCO, Colo.-
The State Patrol was “seriously considering” recommending felony charges against a ski shuttle driver who struck a parked snowplow on Interstate 70, injuring nine people, State Patrol Capt. Ron Prater said Monday.
A decision could come by the end of the week, Prater said. Prosecutors would have the final say on any charges.
Colorado Mountain Express shuttle driver Sebastian Lopez, 28, has been moved to an administrative off-road position, company CEO Jay Ufer said.
The crash Sunday morning near the Eisenhower Tunnel injured the plow driver and eight passengers of the ski shuttle, but Lopez was not hurt, troopers said.
Three remained hospitalized Monday at a Denver hospital.
The ski shuttle was on its way from Vail to Denver International Airport around 8 a.m. Sunday. The plow was parked in the highway to divert traffic so crews could clean up an earlier accident.
Electronic message boards warned drivers of the accident, while police officers and Colorado Department of Transportation workers on scene directed traffic off I-70, CDOT spokeswoman Mindy Crane said.
Lopez apparently missed the detour and struck the plow at about 60 mph, troopers said.
The State Patrol was investigating whether weather and visibility were factors.
Colorado Mountain Express was reviewing the conditions Lopez encountered, how the CDOT plow was parked, and the safest conditions for road closures.
Ufer said Lopez has been driving for the company for multiple seasons and had completed all training requirements, including defensive driving.
Colorado Mountain Express serves about 330,000 travelers per year.
