Two people were seriously injured and about a dozen cows were killed or put down by wildlife officials when a cattle truck crashed near Saguache early Thursday, authorities say.
The one-vehicle accident was reported at 3:16 a.m. on U.S. 285 near Colorado 114, said Trooper Nate Reid, a spokesman for Colorado State Patrol.
The driver, Seth Smith, 31, of Skull Valley, Az., was taken by helicopter to a Denver hospital in serious condition.
His wife, Brittney, 28, and their two children, ages 8 and 3, were asleep in the truck and they were taken to the Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte for treatment.
Brittney was later taken by helicopter to a Pueblo hospital with serious injuries.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife rangers responded to the call to help euthanize some of the cows that were seriously injured in the crash.
Seth Smith was driving a 1999 Peterbilt semi, pulling a cattle trailer with 60 head of cattle from Arizona to Greeley when the crash happened, CSP Cpt. George Dingfelder said.
Smith was on northbound U.S. 285 when he lost control of the truck on a curve and rolled the truck one complete time.
Ranchers helped round up the surviving cattle.
The children remained at the hospital awaiting family members to pick them up.
Troopers believe that excessive speed contributed to the crash.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, kmitchell@denverpost.com or @kirkmitchell or
