Five people injured in four-vehicle crash on Highway 160

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Photos courtesy of Colorado State Patrol Five people were injured in a four-vehicle pileup on Highway 160 east of Monte Vista on Thursday.

RIO GRAND COUNTY — Two people were airlifted to hospitals with serious injuries sustained in a four-vehicle crash on Highway 160 west of County Road 3E outside of Monte Vista. The Colorado State Patrol suspects distracted driving was a contributing factor in the crash Thursday afternoon, Aug. 18. A total of five people were taken to hospitals for treatment.

At approximately 3:28 p.m., four vehicles were traveling eastbound on Highway 160 in a construction zone. The first vehicle was a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a juvenile from Monte Vista. The second vehicle was a 2019 Jeep Compass driven by Rosa Felix and her passenger Oscar Gutierrez both from Monte Vista. The third vehicle was a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Luz Aguilera-Villa from Alamosa. The fourth vehicle was a 2017 Buick Envision driven by Courtney Petek from Grand Junction.

The Jeep Compass, Chevrolet Equinox, and the Buick Envision were all stopped in traffic, according to CSP. The Chevrolet Silverado crashed into the Jeep Compass which was pushed into the Chevrolet Equinox and then into the Buick Envision.

All vehicles involved were heavily damaged as a result of the crash and all parties involved were transported to San Luis Valley Health Regional Medical Center in Alamosa for injuries, CSP reported.

The juvenile, Aguilera-Villa, and Petek sustained minor injuries. Felix and Gutierrez were flown out with life-threatening injuries.

The highway was closed for more than an hour due to the crash. Traffic was diverted onto Sherman Avenue in Monte Vista and onto Soldiers Home Road from Highway 160.