Colorado Highway 131 head-on crash victim identified as Lakewood woman
Emergency crews from Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue and the Routt County Sheriff’s Office responded to a head-on crash on Colorado Highway 131 on Friday. Spencer Klingeman, a 30-year-old from Lakewood, was killed in the crash. (Photo by John F. Russell)
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — The victim of Friday evening’s head-on crash on Colorado Highway 131 near Steamboat Springs has been identified as 30-year-old Spencer Klingeman, of Lakewood, according to Colorado State Patrol public information officer Gary Cutler.
The crash happened shortly before 4:30 p.m. Friday at mile marker 68 on Colo. 131 near Haymaker Golf Course.
Klingeman was killed when the vehicle in which she was riding, a Toyota Tacoma traveling southbound, lost traction on the icy road and went into the northbound lane, hitting a Dodge Durango driven by Jacqueline Ramirez, of Routt County, Cutler said.
Klingeman died of blunt-force trauma to the head, according to Routt County Coroner Rob Ryg.
The 30-year-old male driver of the Tacoma, a 33-year-old female passenger in the truck and Ramirez were all transported to UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center with serious but not life-threatening injuries, according to Cutler.
At least two of the people, including the victim, had to be extricated from a vehicle. Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue firefighters used hand tools to remove one trapped patient in about 20 minutes, according to a news release from the city of Steamboat Springs. Hydraulic tools were required to extricate the victim.
All four people were wearing seatbelts, Cutler said.
It is unknown whether there will be any charges filed related to the crash.
Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue, Routt County Sheriff’s Office, Oak Creek Fire Protection District and Colorado State Patrol responded to the crash. A West Routt Fire Protection District ambulance also was staged in Steamboat to respond to emergencies while Steamboat firefighters responded to the crash.
To reach Nicole Miller, call 970-871-4206, email nmiller@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @millerna.
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