News in Brief

Three die in I-70 wreckEAGLE COUNTY Three people were killed and seven injured in a crash on Interstate 70 near the Eagle exit.The accident, which involved a van and a semi-truck, occurred just after noon and snarled traffic near Eagle for a few hours.Ten passengers were in the van and they may have been illegal immigrants, the Colorado State Patrol said.The driver of the semi-truck was not injured, said Christopher Montera, district manager of the Western Eagle County Ambulance District. A woman, possibly a teenager, and two men, maybe in their 20s, died from head injuries, according to Kara Bettis, Eagle County coroner. They were all riding in the van, Montera said.The Vail Valley Medical Center treated seven people who were injured in the crash. Two were released and two were taken by helicopter to Denver Health and Medical Center, where they were in serious condition, authorities said. The remaining three were being treated in Vail, said hospial spokesman Jonathan Hoehn.The accident prompted authorities to close both of I-70’s east lanes and one west lane for several hours. The State Patrol reopened one of the east lanes Monday afternoon. (Vail Daily)Buddy Program gets big boostASPEN The Buddy Program announced Monday that its new endowment fund has received a $300,000 jump-start.The cash injection comes after Lenny “Boogie” Weinglass, chairman of The Buddy Program board of directors, proposed a one-shot opportunity in support of the nonprofit to match individual donations of $50,000 as part of the Boogie’s Bash for the Buddies Live Auction. The offer was met by Marianne and Don Buchholz, Kelly and Stuart Lasher, and Randy and Ken Kendrick. According to a news release, the endowment will help secure funds to recruit, screen and train new mentors as well as provide free activities and support services to Big Buddies, Little Buddies and their families in the future.For more information about The Buddy Program, visit http://www.buddyprogram.org or call 920-2130.Harvey Gap blaze containedSILT MESA The Harvey Gap Fire on Silt Mesa was listed at 100 percent contained by Monday morning.According to a news release, quick response by local residents, Burning Mountains Fire Department, as well as assistance from the Upper Colorado River Interagency group and Rifle Fire Department, limited the fire to approximately 15 acres in the main body of the fire and one acre in four smaller spots north of the main fire.Three vehicles were burned in the fire, but no structures were lost and no injuries were reported.One helicopter provided continuous air support and one air tanker dropped a load of retardant near a threatened residence.The cause of the fire is undetermined and under investigation. (Glenwood Springs Post Independent)