Ouray Man Killed in Highway Accident

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A 34-year-old Ouray man died in a two-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ridgway, Colorado last night. Alixzander Thomsen was driving a Dodge Caravan when it collided with a Ford F-350 truck pulling a trailer. Two other passengers in Thomsen's vehicle were injured, while the driver of the truck was uninjured.

Why it matters

This fatal accident on a notoriously dangerous stretch of U.S. Highway 550 has renewed calls from local residents for increased safety measures and patrols along the road. Several serious crashes have occurred in the past year, prompting demands for changes to improve driver and pedestrian safety.

The details

According to the Colorado State Patrol, the crash occurred near Orvis Hot Springs. Thomsen was driving the Dodge Caravan when it collided with the Ford F-350 truck. A 12-year-old girl in Thomsen's vehicle was airlifted for medical treatment, while a 74-year-old woman was taken by ambulance to a hospital. The highway was closed for over five hours as authorities investigated the accident and cleared the scene.

• The accident occurred last night on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ridgway, Colorado.

What’s next

The Ouray County Coroner's office will perform an autopsy and toxicology testing as part of the ongoing investigation into the accident and Thomsen's death.