COSTILLA COUNTY — A teen not wearing a seatbelt died in car crash Monday morning, Oct. 24, on Highway 160 east of Blanca, the Colorado State Patrol reported.

At approximately 8:59 a.m., a white 2003 Saturn LS200 sedan was traveling west on Highway 160 approximately 3 miles east of Blanca. This location is approximately 23 miles east of Alamosa in Costilla County.

The 19-year-old driver of the Saturn drifted off the right side of the roadway and down a slight embankment into a dry ditch. The Saturn continued along in the ditch and then collided with a metal culvert with its front.

The Saturn then rotated counterclockwise and came to rest on its wheels facing south. The restrained male driver was seriously injured and transported via ground ambulance to the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center in Alamosa then later flown out to Penrose Hospital. The unrestrained 19-year-old male passenger in the vehicle died at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the Colorado State Patrol Vehicular Crimes Unit.