Friday, June 5th, 2015

Motorcycle driver sustains serious injuries in Trout Creek Pass accident Friday

Published on Monday, June 8, 2015 10:37 am, By Marcus Hill, The Mountain Mail

Karen E. Johnson, 54, of Castle Rock sustained serious injuries in a two-vehicle wreck Friday afternoon near Trout Creek Pass. The Colorado State Patrol reported the wreck occurred around 2:03 p.m. Friday and involved a motorcycle and a van. Johnson was driving her motorcycle westbound on U.S. 24 when she entered the eastbound lane in a curve to the right, according to the State Patrol report. The State Patrol reported William R. Countess, 39, of Bremerton, Wash., was driving his van eastbound when the motorcycle struck his vehicle in the right front.

Johnson was ejected from her motorcycle and came to rest on the eastbound shoulder of the road. Johnson’s motorcycle slid off the left side of the road and down an embankment, according to the report. Countess’ vehicle ran off the right side of the road onto the eastbound shoulder. Johnson was airlifted from the scene to Memorial Central Hospital in Colorado Springs.

The wreck caused both lanes to be closed for just over 3 hours Friday, CSP Cpl. Kris Galyean said. Colorado State Patrol, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Buena Vista Police Department, Chaffee County Emergency Medical Services and Chaffee County Fire Protection District all assisted on scene.