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Woman killed in wreck identified

Jenna Erickson lived in town for about a year

Jack Weinstein

— Routt County Coroner Rob Ryg said doctors at Yampa Valley Medical Center worked for three hours Saturday night trying to save 22-year-old Jenna Erickson.

“They tried to bring her back,” he said. “She had some signs of life. They tried to get her, but it was too much trauma.”

Ryg said an autopsy Sunday revealed Erickson died of multiple blunt force trauma after a car crash just west of Steamboat Springs on Saturday evening.



Ryg said Erickson was taken to YVMC with severe injuries to her abdomen, chest and head after her eastbound Buick sedan drifted into the westbound lane of U.S. Highway 40 near mile marker 129 and was struck by an oncoming Dodge pickup truck.

Ryg said Erickson, who was from Crofton, Md., had lived in Steamboat Springs for about a year. He said she would have turned 23 on Saturday.



According to a Colorado State Patrol news release, troopers responded to the crash at 7:33 p.m. near M&M Auto. A 1994 Buick LeSabre driven by Erickson was traveling eastbound on U.S. 40 when it entered the westbound side of the highway. A 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, driven by a 49-year-old Steamboat man, was traveling westbound when it collided with the passenger side of the Buick.

The release stated that the Buick rotated counterclockwise and stopped against a snowbank on the north side of the highway. The Dodge stopped on the highway.

The pickup driver and his passenger, a 51-year-old woman, also were taken to YVMC. Ryg said the driver and passenger were treated and released.

State Patrol Cpl. Brian Bagley said late Sunday afternoon that the names of the Dodge driver and passenger had not yet been released.

The release stated that at the time of the crash, it was snowing and the road was “covered completely” by snow. It stated that all three people involved in the crash were wearing seatbelts and the pickup driver is not thought to have been impaired.

Ryg said it would take several weeks for Erickson’s toxicology report to be completed, but he had no reason to think she was impaired.

— To reach Jack Weinstein, call 970-871-4203 or e-mail jweinstein@SteamboatToday.com


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