EMERGENCY WORKERS seek to extricate a Dolores woman from her vehicle Wednesday afternoon after it collided head-on with a pick-up truck on Highway 145 near County Road P.

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

A preliminary investigation into a head-on crash Wednesday afternoon has offered very little insight as to why a Dolores woman was traveling in the oncoming lane on Highway 145, according to police.

Ruby Mosher, 28, was transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital after rescue workers extricated her from her demolished Buick four-door car. According to a hospital spokesperson, she was in stable condition with minor injuries Wednesday evening.

The driver of the other vehicle, 30-year-old Ted Gray, also of Dolores, sustained minor injuries, including a split lip. He did not require transportation.

According to Colorado State Trooper David Van Bibber, Mosher did not so much as swerve to avoid colliding with a car in front of Gray, nor did she attempt to veer back into her own lane at the time of the collision with Gray.

However, Gray, who was traveling northbound in his older-model Ford truck, crossed over into the southbound lane as a last-ditch attempt to dodge Mosher’s car.

Van Bibber said the vehicles made contact on the center line, colliding head-on on the passenger sides. Gray was wearing a seat belt but the preliminary investigation suggests Mosher was not. Both air bags in Mosher’s vehicle did deploy.

"There was nothing to indicate drugs or alcohol at the scene," Van Bibber said.

Both vehicles were estimated to be traveling the speed limit at the time of the crash, Van Bibber added.

Charges are pending the conclusion of the investigation.