OTERO COUNTY – A 48-year-old Pueblo man stole a truck and crashed into multiple other cars, causing serious and life-threatening injuries Monday.
Colorado State Patrol is investigating the crash involving a stolen truck in Rocky Ford Monday. CSP said David Refice of Pueblo stole a GMC Sierra Pickup truck that was parked near the sale barn on the west side of Fowler.
The truck was reportedly traveling eastbound on Highway 50 entering Rocky Ford when a Rocky Ford Police officer attempted to stop the vehicle.
The pursuit ended quickly as the driver accelerated at a high rate of speed while in Rocky Ford, according to a release. Otero County Sheriff’s Deputies then attempted to stop the truck as it continued eastbound on Highway 50.
CSP said the truck then traveled out of Rocky Ford city limits and was traveling in the left lane of eastbound Highway 50 when it attempted to push a Ford Escape out of its path. The GMC was unable to get around the Escape and drove into a center median, causing the truck to then hit a delineator post and highway sign, CSP said.
The GMC continued eastbound for .6 miles, crossed the center median, ending up in the westbound lanes of the highway. The GMC Sierra then hit a Chevy Blazer head-on causing the GMC to roll two and a half times before coming to a stop, according to a release.
The Chevy Blazer came to a stop facing east on the left shoulder of westbound Highway 50 when a Toyota Prius then hit the rear, left side of the Chevy. The driver of the Chevy Blazer, 54-year-old Patrick Cabrera of Swink, was partially ejected from the truck sustaining life-threatening injuries.
CSP said he was not wearing a seatbelt during the crash. The driver of the Prius, 62-year-old Robert Frazier of La Junta, and passenger, 66-year-old Rita Frazier, were both uninjured and wearing seatbelts at the time.
Refice was also seriously injured in the crash. CSP said he was not wearing a seatbelt during the crash and excessive speed and driving on the wrong side of the road are being considered factors.
This is an active investigation.
