Breckenridge man killed in crash near Rabbit Ears Pass

A 24-year-old Breckenridge man was killed Monday in a head-on crash caused by a driver passing in a no-passing zone on U.S. Highway 40 near the east side of Rabbit Ears Pass in Grand County.

James Fagan died at the scene, and his family has been notified. He was a passenger in a GMC Envoy driven westbound by 42-year-old Breckenridge resident Lienchai Harker.

Harker was taken to a Denver-area hospital.

Both Harker and Fagan were wearing seatbelts.

The crash was reported at about 2:45 p.m. 27 miles east of Steamboat Springs near mile post 162.

According to a statement from Colorado State Patrol, Felix Cervantes, 35, of Denver, was driving a Dodge Durango eastbound and passing traffic in a no-passing zone on a hill crest.

After impact, both cars went off the road.

U.S. 40 was briefly closed for the Classic Air helicopter.

Cervantes was flown by Classic Air Medical with serious injuries to Yampa Valley Medical Center and later taken to a Denver-area hospital.

The circumstances surrounding the crash are still under investigation.

“No charges have been filed at this point but will be considered once the crash investigation has been completed,” a CSP news release stated.

The Colorado State Patrol was assisted by the Colorado State Patrol Vehicular Crimes Unit, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, West Grand County EMS, Kremmling Fire Department, Classic Air Medical, the Grand County Coroner’s Office, and the Colorado Department of Transportation.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland