Car accident kills two, closes La Veta Pass on Monday

HUERFANO- A head-on collision on the Costilla- side of La Veta Pass left two people dead on Monday, with another two people in critical condition.
Natasha Garcia-Rael, 25, of Pueblo, was westbound, driving a Chevy Colorado, when she attempted to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone. She struck Henry Vasquez, 59, of Elbert, who was eastbound and driving a Ford F-250. Both Garcia-Rael and Vasquez were pronounced dead at the scene.
A child riding with Garcia-Rael (whose name has not been released) was airlifted to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs with critical injuries. Louise Vasquez, a passenger with Henry Vasquez, was also airlifted to Memorial with moderate injuries.
Vasquez was hauling a horse in a trailer at the time of the crash, and reports are the horse was also killed.
The crash occured at 11:18am, and closed Hwy 160 in both directions for three and a half hours. According to the Colorado State Patrol, witness statements indicate that Garcia-Rael was speeding as she passed through the no-passing zone. All of the victims were wearing seatbelts except Garcia-Rael.