Staff Report
NAVAJO— A fatal two vehicle accident on west Highway 160 claimed the life of a 65 year-old Rye woman Friday morning, Dec. 10. Dead at the scene of the head-on collision was Irene Dede of Rye, Colorado. The Kia she was in was being driven by her husband, 67 year-old John Dede also of Rye.
Colorado State Patrol reports that a Toyota 4 Runner was east bound on Highway 160 when it swerved into the west bound lane hitting a Kia Rio causing the Kia to roll over onto its top on the southside of the highway killing Irene Dede, a passenger in the Kia. John Dede, who was driving the Kia sustained minor injuries.
CSP reports 61 year-old Tobias Varos of Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico and the driver of the Toyota, also received minor injuries and has been arrested and charged with careless driving causing death and two counts of carless driving caused injury. A passenger in the Toyota, Deena Varos also of Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico sustained serious injuries and was flown to St. Mary-Corwin hospital.
Initial reports indicate that neither drugs nor alcohol use was a factor in the accident however investigators are looking at driving while asleep which is being considered as a contributing factor. Seat belts were in use at the time of the accident.
