WALSENBURG — Two people were injured Tuesday evening in a high speed crash that sent both through the windshield of the car when it slammed into the ditch along Colorado Avenue. The single vehicle crash happened before 7 pm and witnesses told police the car was west bound at a high rate of speed when it hit the dip in the road sending the vehicle airborne before it rolled at least one time and ended in the ditch. The vehicle tore through trees and bushes and impacted the ditch landing right side up. The crash victims were tentatively identified at the scene as Jason Thompson and Mia Manzanares. Both were taken initially to Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center. Thompson was flown to Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo with critical injuries. Manzanares was flown to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs with serious injuries. At 4:30 am Wednesday, Thompson’s condition was listed as critical and unstable. Manzanares was listed by hospital officials to be in serious but stable condition. Huerfano County Sheriff’s Deputy Cory Daniels and WPD
Officer Ron Martinez jumped in the ditch and held Thompson’s head above the water until EMTs arrived. Investigators at this time do not know who was driving the borrowed Infinity G-35 at the time of the crash. Accident reconstruction specialists from the Colorado State Patrol are expected to be in Walsenburg Wednesday to further investigate the accident. WPD Chief Tommie McLallen said Wednesday speed and alcohol use may have been a factor in the accident, but the investigation is ongoing.
