Two were killed in a crash outside of Pagosa Springs on Saturday, Feb. 15.
The crash was one of three fatal crashes investigated by the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) in the state that day, and one of several over the holiday weekend.
According to a press release from the CSP, troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash with four total occupants on U.S. 84, near milepost 18 (near Pagosa Springs) at 5:29 p.m. on Feb. 15.
It explains a 2021 Ford F250 was northbound on U.S. 84 when it moved into the southbound lane where a 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer was traveling. The Trailblazer moved into the northbound lane and then the Ford F250 returned back into its original lane, colliding with the Trailblazer.
The Trailblazer, the press release notes, was pushed northbound and hit the guardrail on the northbound side of the road. The Ford F250 traveled into the southbound lane, colliding with the guardrail on the south side of the highway.
The driver of Trailblazer died at the scene, according to the CSP. The back-seat occupant of the Trailblazer, a child, was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead.
According to Archuleta County Coroner Brad Hunt, the man is identified as Aaron Tenorio, 24, of New Mexico, while the child, the man’s nephew, is identified as Dante Tenorio, 7, of Pagosa Springs.
The CSP reported the front-seat passenger of the Trailblazer was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the Ford 250 was transported to a medical facility with moderate injuries, the press release adds.
A later update by the CSP states that the suspect, Justin McCelvey, a 37-year-old out of Texas, was arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide-DUI, one charge of vehicular assault-DUI, driving under the influence and alcohol-possess open container in vehicle.
McCelvey appeared in person in Archuleta County Court Wednesday morning for a bond hearing, with relatives of the victims speaking out in favor of an increased bond for McCelvey, who is currently out on bond.
The court also heard from parents whose children lost a friend.
In addressing the court, the relatives of the victims stated the deaths have “devastated” three communities — Pagosa Springs; Dulce, N.M.; and Acoma Pueblo, N.M.
Parents of children who were friends with Dante also addressed the court, discussing how their kids have handled the news.
Judge Justin Fay also addressed the officers who responded to the crash have ties to the elementary school Dante attended and noted for transparency that he also has ties to the school and that he signed the blood-draw warrant the night of the crash.
No decision was made regarding bond during the hearing.
A GoFundMe for the other victim, identified by her stepmother in court as Anjelica Talamante, can be found at https://bit.ly/41oiArm.
Tuesday crash leaves five injured
According to the CSP, the agency responded to a two-vehicle crash at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, on U.S. 160 near milepost 164.7.
“The two vehicles involved were a 2018 Lincoln Navigator and a 2016 GMC Yukon,” a Wednesday email about the incident states.
It explains the Lincoln Navigator was traveling westbound on U.S. 160 at milepost 164 in the right lane. The GMC Yukon was eastbound on U.S. 160 and milepost 164 in the right lane. The Lincoln lost control on a left-hand curve and traveled across the centerline into oncoming traffic and hit the GMC head-on.
The driver of the Lincoln, the email states, was a 24-year-old male out of Texas who received minor injuries.
The driver of the GMC was a 63-year-old male out of Texas who received minor injuries.
“The passenger of the Lincoln Navigator had moderate injuries and was transported to the hospital by ambulance,” the email states, adding, “The passengers of the Yukon were all transported to the hospital by ambulance. Two of them had serious injuries. One had moderate injuries. One had minor injuries.”
On Tuesday, the CSP reported that one minor was being air lifted to the hospital.
The CSP reported Wednesday the cause of the crash remains under investigation, but at this time drugs or alcohol are not suspected to be a factor.
Pedestrian killed in
Tuesday night incident
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, at approximately 11:19 p.m., the Archuleta Combined Dispatch Center received a report of a pedestrian possibly struck by a motor vehicle on U.S. 160 near the intersection with Great West Avenue, the Pagosa Springs Police Department (PSPD) reported Wednesday morning via press release.
PSPD, Pagosa Springs Medical Center EMS and Pagosa Fire Protection District personnel responded to the scene, according to the press release.
Upon arrival, it notes, PSPD police officers located a male subject partially in the roadway. Officers immediately administered lifesaving efforts until EMS arrived. Despite attempts to revive him, the male subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The pedestrian has been identified as 46-year-old Phillip Montoya, of Pagosa Springs, according to the press release.
The vehicle involved in the incident fled the scene,” the release states adding that, through a “detailed investigation, officers identified the type of vehicle involved.”
Subsequently, it notes, officers located the vehicle and identified the driver as 42-year-old Merenda Romine, of Pagosa Springs.
Based on the investigation, there is probable cause to believe alcohol was a contributing factor, it notes.
Romine was taken into custody and charged with multiple offenses, it states, including:
• CRS 18-3-106: vehicular homicide.
• CRS 42-4-1601: leaving the scene of an accident involving death.
This investigation remains ongoing, according to the PSPD.
Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is urged to contact PSPD Assistant Chief Brooks Brown at (970) 264-4151, ext. 246 or the Archuleta County Combined Dispatch Center at (970) 264-2160.
randi@pagosasun.com
