A front tire on an RV blew out on the Western Slope Tuesday and the vehicle crashed into an oncoming pickup, killing the truck’s driver.
The fatal crash happened at about 4:55 p.m. east of Parachute on U.S. Highway 6, according to a Colorado State Patrol media release.
The RV, driven by James Vanacore, 68, of Florida, was westbound on I-70 when a front tire blew out and Vanacore lost control, the state patrol said. The RV ran off of the road, through a deer fence and into the eastbound lane of Highway 6 where it slammed head on into a pickup truck driven by Vance Flynn, 35, of Rifle.
People in the RV had “minor injuries” and were treated at the scene.
Flynn, who was alone in the pickup, was trapped inside and had to be cut out by firefighters. He was flown by helicopter to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction where he died at about 6:30 p.m., the state patrol said.
An investigation by the state patrol into the fatal crash is ongoing.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
