YOUR AD HERE »

Four injured in I-70 crash near Parachute

Post Independent Staff Report
Aspen, CO Colorado

PARACHUTE, Colo. ” A crash on Interstate 70 injured four people and closed the eastbound lanes east of Parachute for four hours on Saturday.

At about 12:35 p.m., an eastbound 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee drove into the back of semitrailer, which was stopped on the shoulder while the driver made a cell phone call, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The impact caused the Jeep to spin clockwise into the left lane, where it came to a stop facing northeast.

The Jeep’s driver, Larry Hardrick, 38, of Parachute, was extricated by Grand Valley Fire Protection District personnel and transported to Grand River Medical Center in Rifle.



Three young passengers were also injured. A 12-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were transported to Grand River Medical Center and then flown by Air Life helicopter to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. A 15-year-old girl was also transported to Grand River Medical Center and then transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital.

Alcohol is not suspected to be involved in the crash. The State Patrol investigation suggests Hardrick was distracted and drove off the right side of the highway.




Also responding to the accident were the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Rifle Fire Protection District, Parachute Police Department and Colorado Department of Transportation.