The Ouray County Coroner’s Office has released the identities of three people who died in two separate crashes along Highway 550, which is known for its stretch of road that’s also called the Million Dollar Highway. One of the two fatal crashes occurred on this very exposed portion of the road.

The first fatal crash occurred on August 5, involving a Honda Civic traveling off the roadway a few miles south of Ouray and rolling roughly 320 feet down the mountainside. Those killed in that crash have been identified as Louis Michael, 42, and Leoba Valdez, 79, both of New Mexico. A juvenile passenger was also in the vehicle at the time and was transported for medical care. An update on the child’s status has not been released.

Another fatal crash occurred on the same high country highway on August 6, this one around mile marker 114, which is between Ridgway and Montrose. The individual who died in that crash has been identified as Tyler G. Smith, a 40-year-old local resident of Montrose.

At last report, additional information related to the wrecks has not been released by Colorado State Patrol, which is the agency in charge of each investigation. A toxicology test is taking place for victims of each crash, per standard procedure following a fatal accident, and results of that test can take six to eight weeks.

Condolences go out to those impacted by these deaths.