Crash victims identified

Crash victims identified

Nov. 16, 2000

Cortez Journal

Two men killed in a two-vehicle collision Monday were identified Wednesday by the Colorado State Patrol as Leo E. Staley, 88, of Monte Vista and Robert L. Medcalf, 50, of Farmington, N.M.

The fatal crash occurred on U.S. Highway 160 west of Hesperus after Staley lost control of his eastbound 1988 Oldsmobile on a patch of ice and slid into oncoming traffic, killing himself and Medcalf, who was driving a westbound Ford Minivan.

Medcalf, an employee of Four Corners Pilot Cars, was driving the van as a pilot car for an oversized house.

There were no passengers in either car. Medcalf was not wearing his seat belt; Staley, however, was wearing his. Airbags deployed in Staley’s vehicle as well.

The State Patrol said Staley was driving too fast for the icy conditions.

Staley was a former Cortez resident. His funeral services are scheduled for Friday at the Ertel Memorial Chapel at 11 a.m.

Earlier the icy section of road caused another driver to lose control and slip off the road. A State Patrolman was assisting that driver when the accident occurred.