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Colorado State Patrol is investigating a deadly crash on Labor Day when a driver hit a whitewater rafting company van head on along Highway 285 near Nathrop.
NATHROP, Colo. — Colorado State Patrol (CSP) is investigating a deadly crash on Labor Day when a driver crashed into a van carrying whitewater rafters head-on along Highway 285 near Nathrop.
One person was hurt and seven others were injured. The crash happened when the driver of a Toyota 4Runner was trying to pass other vehicles on a curve in a no passing zone, according to Colorado State Patrol Trooper Gabriel Moltrer.
The driver smashed into a Wilderness Aware Rafting van, which was shuttling whitewater rafters.
The driver of the Toyota 4Runner that caused the crash is a 33-year-old man from Golden. He suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, Moltrer said.
The passenger in that SUV died at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to CSP.
The Chaffee County Coroner identified him as Justin Stensland, 49, of Salida.
In the Wilderness Aware Rafting van, the 70-year-old driver and five of its passengers were seriously injured.
Brian Ellis, president of Wilderness Aware Rafting, said the driver has been working with them since 1999.
In a statement to 9NEWS, Ellis said, “We are heartbroken for everyone involved in the accident. We are fully supporting our Wilderness Aware Rafting team and cooperating with law enforcement’s investigation of the accident.”
The crash shut down 285 on Labor Day for nearly five hours.
Charges for the driver of the 4Runner are pending, according to CSP.
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