3 Killed in Western Slope Crash When Vehicle Hits CDOT Workers

CDOT Employees and One Civilian Dead

Three people were killed and one was injured Thursday in a crash on the Western Slope that involved a state-owned vehicle and a pickup truck.

According to the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), the crash occurred on Highway 133 near mile marker 56, about 10 miles south of Carbondale.

The crash occurred when a state-owned Ford F-250 pickup truck crossed the center line and hit a Ford F-350 pickup truck head-on.

Who Was Involved?

The CSP identified the deceased as:

• James Dougherty, 57, of Glenwood Springs
• Matthew Powers, 32, of Arvada
• William Sterling, 62, of Silt

The injured person was identified as Dustin Varner, 31, of Parachute. He was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction with serious injuries.

What Happened?

The CSP said that the state-owned pickup truck was being driven by Dougherty, a CDOT employee, who was working on a project on the highway.

Powers and Sterling were passengers in the state-owned pickup truck.

Varner was driving the pickup truck.

Investigation

The CSP is investigating the crash.

The CSP said that it is too early to say what caused the crash.