Two escape serious injury in Cerro Summit crash

MONTROSE — Two people were spared serious injury Thursday afternoon, despite spinning and rolling off of U.S. Highway 50.

Colorado State Patrol Cpl. Duane Larson said that Steven Moore, 25, of Grand Junction, was behind the wheel of a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Shelly Anders Higgins, 31, also of Grand Junction, as a passenger.

The accident occurred when the eastbound vehicle reached mile post 109 near Cerro Summit, approximately 14 miles from Montrose. While going downhill on the curve, the Jeep went off the right side of the road, rotated counter-clockwise, traveling 367 feet. Larson said Moore overcorrected and the vehicle skidded broadside across the highway for 107 more feet before going off the left side of the road for more than 17 feet and striking the guardrail at an estimated speed of 63 mph in the 50 mph zone.

Larson said the Jeep then traveled nearly 100 feet down a grassy embankment and rolled one and one half times before coming to rest on its top.

Though Anders Higgins was ejected, she was only being held for observation at Montrose Memorial Hospital, Larson said, while Moore had been treated and released.

“They were very, very lucky,” Larson said.

Larson reported that neither party was wearing a seat belt. He also said alcohol was suspected in the incident, though alcohol test results were still pending Thursday evening.

Moore was cited on suspicion of alcohol offenses, speeding, careless driving causing injury and damaging a highway structure.