Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — A Routt County man was in critical condition at a Denver hospital Wednesday after his vehicle rolled three times in an accident on Tuesday.

Timothy M. Okonski is being treated for a serious head injury and a shoulder fracture at Denver Health Medical Center, Johanna Ladis, the hospital's public relations coordinator, said Wednesday.

The accident occurred at about 3 p.m. Tuesday on Colorado 131 south of Oak Creek.

As of Wednesday, the Colorado State Patrol had not determined the cause of the crash.

Colorado State Trooper Brad Keadle said Okonski was traveling alone northbound in his 1995 Jeep Cherokee when he apparently lost control of the vehicle.

Investigators have been able to determine the vehicle went off the right side of the road, got back onto the roadway and crossed over to the left side of the road, Keadle said.

"The vehicle then was able to get back onto the roadway before it rolled onto its driver's side," Keadle said. "The vehicle skid across the road and then went off the right side of the road and rolled two times. It came to a rest on its driver's side."

Representatives of Oak Creek Police, the Routt County Sheriff's Office, Steamboat Springs Rural Fire and Yampa Fire assisted state troopers at the scene.

Sheriff John Warner, who assisted with the accident, said firefighters had to use tools to get Okonski out of the vehicle.

"It was a very unfortunate accident," Warner said.

Keadle said he is unsure if Okonski, who has a County Road 16 address, was wearing a seatbelt.

Yampa Ambulance transferred the unconscious man to Steamboat Ambulance on Colo. 131 at about 3:30 p.m.

The Steamboat ambulance then transported Okonski to Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs.

After assessing Okonski's injuries, Yampa Valley Medical Center officials made arrangements for the man to be flown to Denver Health Medical Center.