Nathan Jones, Trenton Umberger Obituary, Death – The Mesa County Coroner’s Office has identified the victims of a tragic crash involving two Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) workers. The accident, which occurred on Highway 6 on the Western Slope, resulted in three fatalities.
The deceased have been named as 23-year-old Nathan Jones and 43-year-old Trenton Umberger, both from Grand Junction, who were working for CDOT, and 67-year-old Kathi Wallace from Mesa County. The accident happened early Wednesday morning when a vehicle collided with the roadway workers and subsequently rolled over.
Colonel Matthew Packard of the Colorado State Patrol expressed the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the tragic loss of two CDOT employees dedicated to making the state safer for travelers. The collision involved a Jeep Grand Cherokee that, according to preliminary investigations, was off the highway surface when it struck the CDOT workers and their truck.
The collision occurred as the CDOT workers, who were in the process of installing a sign on Highway 6, were walking back to their vehicle. The Jeep struck both the workers and the truck, causing the vehicle to roll over. The crash resulted in the deaths of Jones, Umberger, and Wallace at the scene. The driver of the Jeep was treated for minor injuries and released from the hospital.
Initial reports suggest that the driver of the Jeep was not impaired, but the investigation is ongoing. Authorities are examining why the driver veered off the road, including possible distractions.
The CDOT truck involved had a large sign on its back, highlighting the workers’ presence on the road. Packard and Shoshana Lew, the executive director of CDOT, emphasized the importance of road safety and the need for drivers to be vigilant. They urged motorists to respect the Move Over Law, which mandates that drivers slow down and move over when encountering emergency and roadwork vehicles.
In response to the accident, Governor Jared Polis expressed his heartbreak and called for greater awareness of the dangers faced by road workers. The crash caused extended lane closures on Highway 6, and the Mesa County Coroner’s Office continues to investigate the incident in collaboration with the Colorado State Patrol’s Vehicular Crimes Unit.