CSP: Cell phone contributed to fatal crash

RIDGWAY — A 60-year-old Paonia man died Monday after another vehicle crashed into his on Highway 62.

Cell phone distraction looks to have been a factor in the crash, the Colorado State Patrol said.

According to Trooper Mike Baker, Kassandra Kinney, 18, of Ridgway was westbound in an Isuzu Trooper at around 8 a.m. Monday.

As she neared the top of Dallas Divide, Kinney reportedly lost control and traveled into the eastbound lane, were she overcorrected and managed to swerve around an oncoming vehicle.

She returned into the westbound lane, but again overcorrected and traveled back into the eastbound lane, where she collided with a Nissan Sentra driven by Leonard Sholing, Baker said.

Sholing died at the scene. Kinney was treated for minor injuries at Montrose Memorial Hospital and released.

Baker said Kinney admitted to talking on her cell phone just prior to the crash, and to being distracted.

She has been cited with careless driving resulting in death.

Supplemental reports from other agencies and officers, including from San Miguel County Undersheriff Sky Walters, who came upon the accident, were pending Monday afternoon, Baker said.

Several agencies assisted, including Ouray ambulance, Ouray County Sheriff’s Office, Ridgway ambulance and the Ridgway Marshal’s office.