DEADLY ROLLOVER NEAR CARBONDALE
Carbondale—Criminal charges may be forthcoming in connection to last Sunday night’s rollover accident near Carbondale that killed a local girl and sent five others to the hospital. The Colorado State Patrol says alcohol use is suspected and none of the six people in the Audi sedan was wearing a seat belt when it ended up on it’s top, some 200 feet down a ravine. 17 year old Ayleen Ruiz Alvarado was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on County Road 108. The other five were also thrown from the tumbling vehicle including the driver, 19 year old Gerardo Banda of Basalt. Troopers say Banda was trying to pass another vehicle on the two-lane road when he lost control, went down an embankment and into the ravine. Banda was taken to Valley View Hospital with serious injuries along with two other passengers who were badly hurt. The remaining two escaped with minor injuries. While the investigation continues, counselors are being made available this week in the Roaring Fork School District to help students and faculty members cope with Alvarado’s tragic death.
TEEN BOY IN TROUBLE WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Glenwood Springs—The 16 year old boy who led police and sheriff’s deputies on a 40 mile chase along eastbound I-70 is in big trouble with the law. The youngster is accused of stealing a flatbed truck loaded with welding equipment in Parachute last Saturday night and ignoring the lights and sirens from a convoy of law enforcement vehicles. According to reports from the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, the lad kept driving well after a spike strip flattened the rear tires near Silt. The disabled vehicle finally came to a stop in South Canyon just west of Glenwood Springs however it took a while for officers and deputies to coax the young man out of the truck. The boy is facing several charges including vehicle theft, criminal attempted vehicular assault and a long list of traffic violations.
GARCO SUING FEDS OVER GROUSE
Glenwood Springs—The Greater Sage Grouse issue is not settled in the eyes of four Western Colorado counties. Garfield County is joining forces with Rio Blanco, Moffat and Jackson counties in a lawsuit against the federal government over the land use plan amendments for the bird. Commissioner Tom Jankovsky was assigned this big issue when he first took office in 2011. He says despite the county’s best efforts to scientifically refute the Interior Department’s findings regarding the bird’s prevalence and habitat, it was virtually ignored. The lawsuit is being filed this week with Holsinger Law of Denver.
