Overview

• A silver Honda Civic left the shoulder near mile marker 88 at about 8:06 a.m. and tumbled roughly 320 feet down the mountain before stopping upside-down in a creek.
• Two adult occupants were pronounced dead at the scene and a female juvenile was trapped until emergency crews freed her at 11:27 a.m. and rushed her to a hospital.
• Southbound lanes of U.S. 550 are shut for an extended period with alternating northbound traffic and drivers between Ouray and Silverton are urged to use alternate routes.
• Colorado State Patrol is leading the investigation and has asked anyone who witnessed the crash to call dispatch at 970-249-4392.
• Red Mountain Pass, part of the Million Dollar Highway, is notorious for steep grades and sharp turns that frequently lead to severe accidents requiring prolonged closures for response and investigation.