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Hospital releases kids injured in deadly Colorado crash

The final two children involved in a fatal car crash Monday in La Plata County have been released from an Albuquerque hospital, a spokesman said Thursday.

Arianna Aguilar, 1, and Shawn Martinez, 9, were in satisfactory condition for much of the week at University of New Mexico Hospital.

The crash occurred at 8:23 a.m. Monday about 1.6 miles north of the Colorado-New Mexico border on La Plata Highway (Colorado Highway 140).

Neysha Candelaria, 32, of Durango was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Uplander northbound when she hit snow and ice and slid into the on-coming lane of traffic, colliding head-on with 2009 Kia Sorento driven by Mindy Walck, 38, of Hesperus.

Candelaria had five children in her minivan, none of whom wore seat belts, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

At least three children were thrown from the vehicle, including Mia Martinez, 8, who died in the crash.

shane@durangoherald.com