Two teens die in crash on 145

Two teens die in crash on 145

July 19, 2001

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

A violent one-vehicle crash claimed the lives of two local teens Tuesday night when their car plunged off a steep embankment on Colorado Highway 145 between Stoner and Rico.

The driver, 19-year-old Amber Fitzgerald of Cortez, and the passenger, 19-year-old Nathan Cotton of Dolores, were pronounced dead at the scene at 8 p.m., according to Colorado State Trooper David Van Bibber.

Both the driver’s and passenger’s airbags were deployed, he said. Fitzgerald was wearing a seat belt but had pushed the shoulder strap behind her back. Cotton was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the 2001 Ford Mustang.

It is unclear if alcohol was a factor in the crash. Toxicology reports are pending, Van Bibber said.

"Alcohol is not suspected at this point but it is being investigated," he said. "There were no alcohol containers in the vehicle. There were several bottles of Budweiser at the scene. Some were open, some closed, and they were mixed with the debris from the car, which was scattered over a substantial area."

Van Bibber said tire marks suggest the vehicle’s front right tire went off the shoulder of the road and Fitzgerald overcorrected, sending the Mustang into a clockwise spin over the edge of the road.

"At that point it went airborne," Van Bibber explained.

The car struck at least three trees on its way down, ejecting Cotton in the process.

"The car continued down the 83-foot embankment and stopped about 10 feet short of the river," Van Bibber said. "There was extreme damage to the vehicle. It was a very violent crash — the vehicle was just so crushed."

The first person to arrive was an unidentified motorist who had reportedly just been passed by the two teenagers.

"He checked for injuries, drove back down to Priest Gulch and called 911," Van Bibber said.

The vehicle was registered to Cotton. Fitzgerald did not have a driver’s license, according to Van Bibber.

There was nothing to suggest mechanical failure and speed was not believed to be a factor, he said.