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BRIGHTON — A woman who died after crashing a pickup truck into a Brighton police cruiser at the end of a roughly 30-mile law enforcement chase through Weld County on Wednesday was likely a person of interest in a Mesa County homicide.
Authorities have not definitively said the woman was Barbara A. Blanton-Marez, 39, of Grand Junction, who was wanted for questioning Monday of 50-year-old Lawrence Marez.
Heather Benjamin, a spokeswoman for the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, said she could not confirm that Blanton-Marez was driving the pickup that crashed on U.S. 85 along the border of Weld and Adams counties. Benjamin said, however, that it was “likely” her behind the wheel.
Authorities say they don’t know how the pickup’s driver died.
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Blanton-Marez was wanted on a non-compliance warrant for walking away from Mesa County Community Corrections on May 29 where she was serving a three-year sentence for felony menacing.
Mesa County investigators were called Monday afternoon to a home in the 2900 block of Globe Willow Avenue in Grand Junction after a report of a dead man inside, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
The county coroner ruled the death of Marez a homicide, but the cause was not released, pending further investigation, Benjamin said.
Greeley police said they were the first involved in the chase after receiving information from Mesa County about the homicide suspect, who was believed to be armed and dangerous.
The chase, which reached speeds of 100 mph, began about 10 a.m., Greeley police said. Officers tried unsuccessfully to use stop stick to halt the vehicle, which sped southbound in U.S. 85’s northbound lanes.
Four jurisdictions were ultimately involved.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots after the crash, but police declined to say if officers fired any bullets during the incident.
Brighton Police Cmdr. Frank Acosta said the officer whose car was hit was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and she “seemed to be OK.”
U.S. 85 was closed north of Brighton at Weld County Road 2 until about 6 p.m. as officials processed the crime scene. Authorities did not say when the highway would reopen.
Reina Suniga, who works at the Conoco just east of the scene, said she saw the Brighton police car get hit head-on.
“It was a loud crash,” Suniga said. “It was just, ‘boom!’ All the dust just kicked up.”
Oscar Mojardin, who was working nearby, said he saw a swarm of police vehicles before the red pickup came hurtling down the highway.
“Cops just kept coming and coming,” he said. He said he heard three or four shots after the woman crashed.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
