Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — A Silverthorne woman died and a Steamboat Springs man sustained minor injuries Thursday morning when their cars collided about nine miles south of Kremmling.

Colorado State Patrol Troop--er Rick Kaspar said 50-year-old Marcia Scyzgial of Silverthorne was driving a 2003 Honda minivan north on Colorado Highway 9 at about 8:55 a.m. when she lost control of her car and skidded into the southbound lane. The minivan then struck the 1997 Toyota Tacoma driven by Steamboat resident Peter Van De Carr, owner of Backdoor Sports.

Kaspar said the road was snowpacked and icy at the time of the accident. He said Scyzgial's minivan went off the right side of the road before sliding across the highway and into oncoming traffic.

Grand County Chief Deputy Coroner Brenda Bock said Scyzgial was pronounced dead at the scene.

Van De Carr was taken to Kremmling Memorial Hospital, where he received stitches in his arm. David Jefferson of Silverthorne, Scyzgial's passenger, suffered broken bones and other injuries, Kaspar said. He also was transported to Kremmling Memorial Hospital.

Scyzgial was not wearing her seat belt, Kaspar said, but Jefferson and Van De Carr were.

"Usually, the person closest to the point of impact would sustain more significant injuries. However, because (Scyzgial) was not wearing her seat belt, that was not the case," Kaspar said.

Drugs, and alcohol and vehicle speed are not considered to have been contributing factors in the accident, Kaspar said.

Kaspar said Van De Carr estimated he was going between 50 and 60 mph and that Scyzgial was going about 40 mph when they collided. The posted speed limit in that area is 65 mph.

At home Friday, Van De Carr said he is beginning to piece together the accident because everything happened so fast.

"I remember they were coming at me. I didn't see them coming into my lane. It was so quick, I didn't even realized I had used my brakes," he said.

"It's unbelievable I got out of it. I can't believe I came out of that accident untouched."

Van De Carr said he is grateful for his emergency medical training because he was able to comfort Jefferson after the crash.

Van De Carr also said two Steamboat men and a trauma surgeon pulled over to help with the accident before medics arrived.

-- To reach Alexis DeLaCruz, call 871-4234

or e-mail adelacruz@steamboatpilot.com