The driver of the box truck accused of triggering the four-vehicle crash that killed a 17-month-old near Loveland on Tuesday admitted to reaching down for his cellphone and having smoked marijuana that day, according to the arrest affidavit.
The child, identified Thursday by the Larimer County Coroner’s office as 17-month-old Elijah Manley, was killed in the crash that also injured another juvenile and two adults in the vehicle he was riding in.
The four-vehicle crash near Crossroads Boulevard in Loveland was the result of an earlier incident where a vehicle involved in a medical emergency had to pull to the side of the road for emergency care, according to a Colorado State Patrol Tuesday release. The secondary crash involved a box truck, a Lexus GX, a Kia Telluride, and a Chevrolet Silverado hauling a trailer.
Two adults and one of the children in the Lexus were transported to the hospital, but the other child in the vehicle, Elijah, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jose Salazar, the 35-year-old man who was driving the box truck, is of child abuse, acting recklessly resulting in the death of a child; vehicular homicide while driving under the influence; vehicular homicide while driving recklessly; vehicular assault; and tampering with physical evidence.
While driving, Salazar veered from the center lane and struck the Lexus in the right lane, according to a Colorado State Patrol Wednesday release. The truck pushed the Lexus forward into the other vehicles. No other injuries were reported.
According to the arrest affidavit, Salazar told troopers the crash was his fault and admitted to reaching down into his truck cab to retrieve his dropped cellphone while his vehicle was veering into the right lane. He also told troopers that he had smoked marijuana that morning. Troopers at the scene found a marijuana pipe inside a metal water bottle, which they believe was intended to hide it, according to the affidavit. One of the troopers on scene also noticed that he had bloodshot and glassy eyes, the affidavit stated.
Salazar failed a series of voluntary roadside tests and agreed to a blood test and a , which is conducted by a law enforcement officer trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. The trooper who conducted the evaluation deemed Salazar unsafe to operate a vehicle, according to the arrest affidavit. After being medically cleared, Salazar was booked into the Larimer County Jail.
In the affidavit, troopers noted that Salazar made suicidal comments and anti-law enforcement remarks. He has one prior DUI-related conviction out of Texas, the affidavit stated. He is set to appear in 8th Judicial District Court in Fort Collins at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 29.
A was created to help the family of the 17-month-old focus on healing and grieving. Donations will support the family as they deal with lost wages from having to step away from work and unexpected expenses, the fundraiser’s description stated.
“No words can fully capture the heartbreak of losing a child in a tragic car accident, and this family is now walking through an unimaginable season of grief,” the fundraiser’s description stated.
