The Weld County coroner’s office performed autopsies Monday on three adults and three children killed in a crash Sunday, authorities say.
Officials said they do not think alcohol or drugs played a role in the wreck in a rural area north of Hudson.
“At this time, there is nothing to suggest that,” said George Roose velt, deputy Weld County coroner. “It appears (the driver) was just not paying attention.”
The family members were in a minivan about 1:25 p.m. on the way to a relative’s home when they passed their turnoff on County Road 49.
The driver, Adriana Ronquillo, 26, had pulled to the right side of the road and was making a U-turn when a northbound tanker truck hit the left side of the vehicle, said Cpl. Eric Wynn of the Colorado State Patrol.
The driver of the truck, Brian Wheeler, 53, of Firestone, was transported to North Colorado Medical Center with minor injuries.
Ronquillo and her husband, Jose Bencomo, 33, of Thornton, were killed, as was her brother, Jamie Arais, 28, of Arizona. The Bencomo children who died were identified as Letsly, 6; Eddie, 4; and Yurem Jesus, 9 months old.
Wynn said it was not clear whether anyone in the van was wearing a seat belt.
Patsy Bencomo told 9News that she had just moved to Weld County and that her brother, sister-in-law and three children were coming for their first visit.
She saw the accident after walking outside to flag them down.
“They were lost — they were lost like two times — and the third one, I just went to the corner of my house, and I saw the trailer go through the van,” Patsy Bencomo said.
Now, it is an image that haunts her.
“Every time I look out through my window — I saw the accident. It’s going to be here forever,” she said.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
Karen Auge: 303-954-1733 or kauge@denverpost.com
