An Aztec man suspected of hitting a bicyclist Tuesday south of Durango admitted to drinking three beers prior to the crash and had an open bottle of Southern Comfort in the truck, according to an arrest affidavit.
Thomas Huntsman, 39, was arrested on suspicion of felony vehicular assault, drunken driving, driving with an open container of alcohol and driving without insurance. He had been released from the La Plata County Jail as of Wednesday.
The crash was reported shortly after 6:30 p.m. near County Road 302 and U.S. Highway 550, about 3 miles south of Durango.
Bystanders at the scene told authorities the passenger-side mirror hit multiple riders, but only one went down and under the pickup truck and trailer.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, Huntsman drifted into a turn lane, hit a cyclist, ran over a stop sign and struck a deer fence.
The cycling community identified the injured cyclist as Elliott Saslow, 32, who coaches with Durango Devo, a local cycling group.
Saslow suffered broken bones, including a broken pelvis, according to those in the cycling community. He was taken to Mercy Hospital in serious condition.
Huntsman refused to participate in a voluntary field sobriety test at the scene of the crash, and a search warrant was granted for an blood-alcohol test, according to the affidavit. While at Mercy Hospital, Huntsman allegedly told law enforcement he was drinking out of a Southern Comfort bottle in the pickup truck.
State troopers were unable to locate proof of insurance for Huntsman’s pickup truck.
Huntsman was allegedly agitated and aggressive at the scene of the crash. He made statements saying he does not care about cyclists and was vulgar toward cyclists at the scene, according to the affidavit.
Todd Wells, a Durango cyclist and former Olympian, arrived at the scene about 10 minutes after the crash. He said Huntsman tried to approach Saslow as he lay on the ground surrounded by other cyclists who were trying to render aid. The driver was acting “belligerent” toward Saslow, Wells said.
“The guy who was clearly drunk was trying to get to Elliott and we were trying to keep that person away from Elliott,” he said.
Police arrived before any physical altercations could occur between Huntsman and the cyclists, Wells said. Deputies also reported Huntsman standing over the downed cyclist acting aggressive, according to the affidavit.
Wells said the typical route for cyclists in that area takes them down Highway 550 for two minutes, as they move from one county road to the next. The turning lane where Saslow was hit is the wider part of the road where drivers have more room to pass.
“It’s where you finally feel somewhat safe – where you’re in the shoulder, you’re out of the motorists’ way, there’s plenty of room for passing,” Wells said.
Formal filing of charges is expected to occur at 10 a.m. Aug. 3 in La Plata County Court.
jrooney@durangoherald.com
