Authorities responded to a head-on crash Wednesday evening on U.S. Highway 550, north of Silverton on Red Mountain Pass, resulting in injuries.

San Juan County Sheriff Bruce Conrad said the two-car crash happened about 5:40 p.m. at milepost 78.5, just north of the big bend at Chattanooga before the highway starts climbing Red Mountain Pass toward Ouray.

Conrad said a vehicle descending the hill, headed south on Highway 550, lost control and struck an oncoming vehicle.

The vehicle struck had two people in it: a female driver from Silverton and a male passenger from out of town. Both were taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center by ambulance.

Conrad said authorities are waiting for an injury report from the hospital, and he was unsure of the severity of their injuries.

The driver of the vehicle that lost control, a man not from Silverton, was uninjured. Conrad said authorities are awaiting the injury report about the victims before any possible charges are filed.

Conrad said Highway 550 was icy at the time of the crash, and it was snowing.

Red Mountain Pass had reopened around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday after the highway was closed the previous day because of avalanche danger and adverse weather conditions, including high winds, blowing snow and low visibility.

Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes said crews shot down avalanches on eight known slide paths.

“All snowslides reached the highway with snow ranging from 3 to 8 feet in depth across the roadway,” she said in a statement.

As of Thursday morning, all of Southwest Colorado’s mountain passes – including Coal Bank, Lizard Head, Molas, Red Mountain and Wolf Creek – were considered snow-packed and icy.

Chain and traction laws were in effect for only Molas Pass.

jromeo@durangoherald.com