Colorado plow hits driver on closed mountain pass “to protect and shield other vehicles”
Travel during heavy snow in Colorado is no joke, and it’s important to abide by weather-related closures that get put in place for the safety of yourself and others on the road. One driver learned that lesson the hard way on Thursday when, according to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, they traveled past a closure sign and were ultimately hit by a Colorado Department of Transportation snow plow driver who was attempting to “protect and shield other vehicles” from their SUV.
At about 12:06 p.m., the driver of a silver Jeep Cherokee allegedly failed to stop at a Berthoud Pass highway closure point at Mary Jane Road on the Winter Park side of the pass. Keep in mind that Berthoud Pass has gotten about 25 inches of snow in recent hours.
Law enforcement says that the driver of the Jeep Cherokee passed staff at the closure point, including a Grand County Sheriff’s Office sergeant positioned at the location.
After the sergeant attempted a traffic stop, the Jeep Cherokee continued its route up the pass. The sergeant pursued the vehicle to the top of the pass before turning the situation over to Clear Creek County law enforcement.
About five miles after the Jeep Cherokee made it past the Berthoud Pass summit, it was struck by a CDOT plow driver, who was attempting “to protect and shield other vehicles from the suspect’s vehicle.”
The suspected allegedly attempted to flee the scene on foot, but was arrested by members of the Empire Police Department, who were first to arrive on scene.
As the investigation into the situation continued, the suspect was identified as Randy Calvin, 33, with Calvin booked into the Grand County Sheriff’s Office Jail on charges related to the Berthoud Pass incident and an outstanding felony arrest warrant.
Sheriff Brett Schroetlin emphasized, “All too common in today’s society, the rule of law is questioned, which ultimately puts our communities at risk from those who choose to put their own agendas at the forefront over the safety of other citizens. This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Grand County, where we will continue to enforce the law and arrest those that violate it.”
All charges in the case are merely accusations and the suspect is to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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