Bayfield, Colo. — A quiet stretch of Highway 160 turned into a heartbreaking scene after a single-vehicle rollover crash claimed the lives of two young adults and left a 5-year-old child injured just outside Bayfield.
The crash involved a blue Chevrolet S10 that left the roadway and rolled down an embankment. It came to rest on its roof, hidden from view off the south shoulder. Authorities say the vehicle was traveling eastbound before it lost control.
Inside the truck were three people. The driver, 25-year-old Devante Griffin from Farmington, New Mexico, died at the scene. His passenger, 24-year-old Klariza Tarango, also from Farmington, was also pronounced dead on-site.
A 5-year-old girl was also in the vehicle during the crash. She survived the rollover and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Officials later confirmed she was treated for injuries and released.
Investigators believe the crash likely happened early Friday morning, around 6 a.m., but was not discovered until hours later on Saturday around 12:35 p.m. when troopers were called to the area.
The vehicle’s position off the roadway made it difficult to see from passing traffic. It remained hidden until emergency crews arrived and located the wreckage below the highway.
Colorado State Patrol has said that neither speed nor impairment is currently believed to have played a role in the crash. Officials have also stated that no charges are expected at this time.
The investigation is still ongoing as authorities continue working to understand exactly what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway. Families of the victims are now left dealing with sudden loss and shock, while the surviving child continues to recover.
