Near Hugo, Colorado --Two men and a number of cattle were killed Wednesday evening when a tractor-trailer veered into oncoming traffic on a two-lane highway near Hugo and crashed into three semi-trucks in a row.
Semi drivers Duane Olson, 60, and Clint Torres, 30, from Mansfield, Texas, were pronounced dead at the scene of the chain-reaction crash on U.S. 40 just east of Hugo, according to Trooper Nate Reid of the Colorado State Patrol.
Olson, whose hometown was not available, veered into the wrong lane, Reid said.
Joshua Ramirez, 29, of Dodge City, Kan., was hospitalized with minor injuries and his semi was extensively damaged, Reid said.
Jorge Moya, 43, a truck driver from Miami, was not injured, although his semi was seriously damaged.
"We may never know why he veered into the wrong lane," Reid said of Olson.
When the accident happened, three semis were going east on U.S. 40, approaching Olson. The first collision happened at 4:52 p.m. when Olson, going westbound, veered into the eastbound lane and sideswiped the semis driven by Ramirez and Moya.
Olson then collided head-on with Torres' semi.
All four semis remained upright, with Olson's truck coming to rest on the north side of the road and the other trucks on the south side.
f you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a motor vehicle, truck, semi, or big rig accident the office of Coby L. Wooten, Attorney at Law, P.C. is experienced in investigating these devastating types of accidents and can help provide answers. Call someone who knows and can protect your rights. Usually in these types of accidents the trucking companies have begun preparing for a defense of a claim within hours of the accident. Call us toll free 1-800-994-1966 for a free consultation.