DRIVER KILLED AFTER CRASHING SUV INTO WALL
AURORA» A person was killed early Monday morning when they drove an SUV into a brick wall and a tree, authorities say. The name and gender of the crash victim has not been released. The crash happened at around 1:58 a.m. on the 16700 block of East Hampden Avenue, according to a news release by Aurora police Sgt. Mike Douglass. The person was driving a white Mercury SUV when they lost control of the vehicle and collided into a wall and a tree.
Man killed in New Year’s Eve crash.
CALHAN» A man was killed Sunday afternoon in a single-vehicle rollover in northeast El Paso County. He has been identified as 54-year-old Paul Thomas of Calhan, the State patrol said Monday. Thomas was driving a 2000 Subaru Outback at 3:45 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle, the State Patrol said. The patrol reported that Thomas was not wearing a seat belt and said alcohol is believed to have contributed to the crash.
Polar Plunge back on Jan. 1.
BOULDER» The Polar Plunge — which benefits the American Cancer Society — made its return to New Year’s Day on Monday at the Boulder Reservoir after being canceled in 2016 and taking place on Jan. 7 in 2017.
Fire destroys home.
A house near the Coal Creek Golf Course was destroyed in a New Year’s Day fire that also damaged a neighboring house.
The fire, first reported at 3 p.m. Monday, appeared to have started in the garage of the house at 828 Pinehurst Court before moving through the attic and engulfing the whole home, according to John Wilson with the Louisville Fire Department.
All of the residents and their pets were able to exit the home safely.
New $3 tobacco tax, age hike take effect for new year.
ASPEN» Those not resolving to quit cigarettes or tobacco in 2018 will be paying significantly more in Aspen to support their habits starting this year.
Monday marked the start of a new $3 per pack city tax. It also was the day when the legal age to purchase tobacco products — including electronic cigarettes — increased from 18 to 21 in Aspen.
The changes are a result of two decisions in 2017.
For retailers selling tobacco products in 2018, the new tax means they must pay the city a one-time license fee of $500. Fewer than a dozen Aspen retailers sell tobacco products. One business, the city-owned Aspen Golf Club, will discontinue selling cigars this year, said C.J. Oliver, Environmental Health Department director.
Bus crash in rural Utah kills 13-year-old, injures 11 people.
GREEN RIVER,
Authorities are investigating a Greyhound bus crash in rural Utah that killed a 13-year-old girl and injured 11 others.
Utah’s Highway Patrol said the bus headed to Las Vegas crashed Sunday night off Interstate 70 west of the Utah city of Green River.
The bus went off the highway shoulder into a steep wash and stopped about 200 feet away from the road. The bus driver and two passengers were flown in serious condition to hospitals in Grand Junction and Provo, Utah.