Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — A 20-year-old Hayden man who suffered a serious head injury in a weekend crash was taken out of Denver Health Medical Center's intensive care unit Tuesday afternoon.

Eric Don Bell, who was a passenger in a vehicle that rolled near Clark Saturday, was upgraded to "fair" condition, said Ashley Bjorkman, the hospital's public relations director.

Also on Tuesday, the driver of the vehicle, Trevor Don Kochenower, appeared in Routt County Court and was charged with vehicular assault, driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license.

Kochenower, 20, was arrested shortly after the accident and booked into the Routt County Jail. On Tuesday afternoon, Routt County Judge James Garrecht set the Hayden native's bail at $5,000.

Bell was flown to the Denver hospital via Flight-For-Life Saturday after an accident occurred about 7:15 a.m. Saturday on County Road 129.

Alcohol and speed are what authorities believe led to the crash, which happened just north of Clark, said Colorado State Trooper Brad Keadle.

Bell, Kochenower, and a third man, Matthew Curtis, 21, of Steamboat Springs, were returning from a camping trip in a 1997 Chevrolet Blazer when the accident occurred, Keadle said.

"The vehicle went off the right side of the road, rolled and ejected (Bell)," Keadle said.

Bell was not wearing a seat belt, the officer said.

Kochenower, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered minor injuries to his right hand. Curtis suffered a back injury.

Kochenower allegedly lost control of the vehicle as he was entering a turn at about milepost 18.

"The speed limit for that area is 30 mph," Keadle said. "He was driving 48 mph."

At the scene, Colorado State Trooper Dave McKee arrested Kochenower for suspicion of drunken driving.

According to a court file, McKee allegedly smelled an odor of alcohol on Kochenower's breath. The suspect also allegedly had bloodshot and watery eyes, the file shows.

Kochenower also allegedly failed roadside sobriety tests. His blood-alcohol content was not known Tuesday because he submitted to a blood test, court records show.

The accident is under continued investigation, Keadle said.

Kochenower is scheduled to return to court on June 6.

The accident was one of nine that occurred over the Memorial Day weekend but is the only one that authorities believe is alcohol-related, Keadle said.

In all, state troopers arrested five motorists for drunken driving and handed out 42 speeding tickets.

State troopers also cracked down on motorists who violated the state's seat belt law.

Troopers issued 21 seat belt citations. Troopers also issued seven aggressive driving citations and conducted 40 motorist assists.