DRIVER DIES IN CRASH IN FRANKTOWN
A driver died Tuesday afternoon in a twovehicle crash in Franktown.
The collision happened at about 12:25 p.m. at the intersection of Colorado 83 and Colorado 86, said Trooper Gary Cutler of the Colorado State Patrol.
The driver, who died at the scene, is a 75yearold woman, Cutler said. She was driving a red Subaru.
The other driver, a 64yearold man, was taken to Parker Adventist Hospital with injuries that are not life threatening, Cutler said. He was driving a maroon Ford pickup truck.
The driver who died, who was not identified by name, was apparently at fault, Cutler said. An investigation is ongoing.
Lake Christine fire is 100 percent contained.
A seasonending weather event — multiple days of rain and snow in the mountains — has led to 100 percent containment of the longburning Lake Christine fire near Basalt.
The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday announced the containment figure on Facebook.
The humancaused fire started July 3 and burned 12,588 acres, according to fire officials.
Federal, state and local officials also on Tuesday announced the lifting of fire restrictions on public lands, including the White River National Forest.
“Although fire restrictions have been lifted, fire managers would like to remind visitors to continue to be attentive of their actions and surroundings, especially in areas with dry vegetation or dead trees,” The Interagency Upper Colorado River Fire Management Unit said in a news release.
Officials said people using the back country should continue fire safety practices, including:
• Never leave a campfire unattended.
• Only use established campfire rings.
• Pick safe and proper campfire sites.
• Ensure that campfires are completely out and cool to the touch — drown, stir and feel.
Fire restrictions were lifted “immediately” on Tuesday, officials said.
Drug suspect barricades himself in El Paso County home; garage catches on fire.
A man arrested as a suspect in a drug case held police at bay Monday night in El Paso County before allegedly lighting a garage on fire and causing an explosion.
The incident unfolded at about 5:30 p.m. when metro vice and narcotics officers were about to serve a search warrant and two arrest warrants in the 400 block of Kiva Drive in the SecurityWidefield area, according to a news release.
The arrest warrants were part of an ongoing drug investigation. One suspect, 23yearold Cheyenne Black, left the home and was arrested. About 30 minutes later, police approached the residence and the second suspect, 25yearold Zhackary Laster, ran through the house and into the garage.
Other people inside the residence were removed and police started talking with the Laster, trying to persuade him to surrender.
The garage door was opened and Laster taken into custody at about the same time an unknown object exploded in the garage and sparked a fire, the sheriff’s office said.
The Security Fire Department responded and was able to control the fire before it spread to neighboring homes.