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Aug 25, 2001
Journal Staff Report A Texas family escaped serious injury late Friday morning when their car collided with a semi-trailer on U.S. Highway 666 near the sale barn north of Cortez. Michael Summers, 37, of Burleson, Texas, a passenger in the car, sustained injuries to his neck and chest, according to Cpl. Don Cline of the Colorado State Patrol. Also injured were Suzanne Shaw, 54, the driver, who had cuts and abrasions; and Maria Shaw, 26, another passenger, who had injuries to her shoulder, knee, jaw and hand, Cline said. All were wearing seat belts. A 4-week-old baby riding in the car, David Summers, was strapped into a car seat and was not hurt, he said. The driver of the semi-tractor, Greg Peck, 31, of Pagosa Springs, also was not injured, Cline said. Michael Summers, Suzanne Shaw and Maria Shaw were taken to Southwest Memorial Hospital. They were in stable condition Friday afternoon with minor contusions and abrasions and were scheduled to be released shortly, according to hospital spokesperson Jenis Tucker. The four Burleson, Texas, residents were southbound in a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser when it drifted across the center line into the northbound lane. The driver’s side of the Cruiser struck the semi, a 1997 Freightliner owned by Ananytek Corp. of Pagosa Springs, on its left side. The Cruiser then hit the tires on the tractor and next struck the tires on the trailer, Cline said. The Cruiser skidded to a stop facing south in the southbound lane and the semi trailer careened off the right side of the road, remaining on its wheels. Suzanne Shaw was cited for careless driving causing injury, Cline said. "The thing that saved these people today was the side-impact air bags in that PT Cruiser," Cline said. "If they hadn’t had a side bag, that semi would have gone right on in there and probably got all of them." He said a similar accident occurred about two years ago in the same spot and a German tourist was killed in the impact. |
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Copyright © 2001 the Cortez Journal.
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