An 18-year-old Cotopaxi teenager died Tuesday in a crash involving two vehicles near mile marker 232 on US 50 between Cañon City and Salida.
According to Colorado State Trooper Gabriel Moltrer, CSP was notified around 5:21 pm of a crash involving a Chevy Silverado and a Ford F-150.
Fremont County Coroner Randy Keller identified the driver of the Chevy as Shane Semer, 18, of Howard, who was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and was pronounced dead by the Fremont County Chief Coroner, Laura Allen, at the scene of the accident. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to authorities.
The cause of death has not been released, pending an autopsy.
Trooper Moltrer also detailed that the driver of the Ford F-150, an unidentified 50-year-old man from Coaldale, was taken to a medical center with serious injuries.
According to Moltrer, the Chevy was traveling east on U.S. 50 when it “failed to negotiate a slight right curve and went off the left side of the road,” which ultimately led to an overcorrection and a rollover. frontal lesion in front. with the Ford, which was heading west.
Moltrer said that, at this time, there is no suspicion of alcohol or drug use or excessive speed by either party.
Semer is a 2023 graduate of Cotopaxi High School, and to help the community with their grief, community members, the high school and Solvista Health have teamed up to offer free pain support services and losses from 9 am to 4:30 pm on Thursdays at the Cotopaxi Schools, located at 345 County Road 12 in Cotopaxi.
According to a press release issued to the Daily Record by Jennifer Price, president of the Cotopaxi Schools Board of Education, “This is a time to heal together and work through the pain that the loss of a loved one can create. We should all expect and try to understand that there will be a range of emotions and responses to what has happened and we will do our best to be as supportive as we can. It is very important to be able to express our feelings about the loss, and we want the our community to know that there are counselors and services available to help guide us through the grieving process.”
Steve McNew, Cotopaxi Schools substitute teacher and Semer staff teacher, worked with Principal Jennifer Gonzales and representatives from Solvista Health to bring vital counseling resources to the affected population of Cotopaxi.
“We just want to reach out and try to help these kids with this tragic accident,” McNew said. “They’ll be open all day for anyone who wants to come and we’ve just decided to open it up to the community – parents, students, certainly staff, those who want to come for advice on complaints.”
However, Cotopaxi officials know that one day of support probably won’t be enough to get the community through this loss.
“There will also be representation from the local church during the day tomorrow,” the statement said. “We are working on additional dates and times for future support services.”
