A man whom police tried to stop for a minor traffic violation caused a head-on crash that killed him and another driver early Monday when he drove the wrong way on Colorado 115 in Fremont County.
The incident started when Florence police tried to pull over a 1992 Nissan Sentra driven by 33-year-old Timothy VanHeel of Colorado Springs, according to the State Patrol.
“Florence chased him for 10 miles into Penrose,” said Trooper Nate Reid.
Fremont sheriff’s deputies then took up the chase, following the Nissan, which was driving north in the proper lane. They stopped chasing him when conditions became too dangerous near mile marker 33.
The Nissan then turned around and passed the deputies, who didn’t continue the pursuit.
Ten miles farther, at mile marker 24, the driver was traveling south in the northbound lane when he collided head-on with a northbound 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by a 57-year-old Daniel Picco of Cañon City. The vehicles collided at 3:48 a.m.
The Nissan spun counterclockwise and VanHeel, who wasn’t wearing a seat belt, was ejected. The Fremont County coroner pronounced him dead at the scene.
The Chevy also spun and went off the east side of the road, coming to rest on its wheels. The driver, Picco, was wearing a seat belt but was pronounced dead at the scene.
Whether alcohol or drugs were involved is unknown, pending toxicology results.
The road reopened after 7 a.m.
The State Patrol is seeking witnesses: Call 719-544-2424.
