A stolen yellow Hyundai became airborne early today and crashed into a river bed, injuring both the driver and a passenger, who was thrown 150 feet from the car, the Evans Police Department reported this morning.
Investigators said the automobile approached the bridge in the 4900 block of 35th Avenue at what appeared to be a high rate of speed, veered toward a guard rail and then launched over the rail, plunging into the riverbed below.
As the Hyundai became airborne, a passenger, Shannon Hottel, 26, was ejected, traveling about 150 feet through the air, according to Rita Wolf, spokeswoman for the Evans police department. He was knocked unconscious.
The driver, Jonathan Mullins, 26, was in the car when it crashed into the riverbed, but he was able to get out of the vehicle on his own.
Officer Luke Croissant arrived on the scene seconds after the accident — which occurred at about 3 a.m. — and was able to rescue Hottel, lifting him out of the water and carrying him to safety, said Wolf.
Both Mullins and Hottel were taken to North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley with extensive injuries.
Wolf said that officers were at the hospital this morning in connection with the ongoing investigation into the incident. The Hyundai was reported stolen by Greeley police.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
