Log In


Reset Password

Crash closes U.S. 160 south of Cortez; driver faces DUI charge

U.S. Highway 160 was closed Thursday for about 45 minutes after a two-vehicle crash at County Road C south of Cortez.

The Cortez Fire Protection District, Colorado State Patrol and other emergency personnel responded to the crash, which occurred at mile marker 30 at 11:58 a.m.

According to Cpl. James Proctor of the Colorado State Patrol, Deanna Irvin of Cortez was arrested and charged with DUI. Her black SUV collided with an SUV occupied by driver Raymond Litsui of Utah and a child.

Irvin was treated at Southwest Memorial Hospital for minor injuries.

“The driver (Irvin) had gone into the shoulder to make a wide left hand turn into a private driveway and didn’t see the other car passing her, and they clipped each other,” Proctor said.

The Colorado Department of Transportation announced at 12:21 p.m. that the road was closed in both directions between County Roads C and B7. At 12:55 p.m., traffic was backed up almost to the Cortez Municipal Airport.

The westbound lanes of traffic reopened at 1 p.m.

Ute Mountain Fire Rescue, Cortez Fire Department, the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Department and CDOT also responded to the scene.