A Keenesburg man was killed Saturday afternoon when the sport utility vehicle in which he was riding lost the tread on a tire, went into the median of Interstate 76 near Wiggins and rolled several times, the Colorado State Patrol reported.

Beau D. Hergney, 20, died at the scene of the 3:05 p.m. crash, Trooper Mike Hill said.

The driver of the SUV, Taylor L. Shaffer, 18, of Keenesburg, was seriously injured and taken to North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, Hill said.

A report on Shaffer's condition was not available at press time.

Heagney and Shaffer were both ejected from the vehicle, the officer said.

Also in the vehicle were Nash Heagney, 10 months, who was in a child seat, and Brian D. Kelley, age not listed, of Fort Morgan and Aaron Flores, 19, of Wiggins, who were wearing seat belts.

Nash Heagney and Flores suffered minor injuries and were taken to Colorado Plains Medical Center in Fort Morgan, and Kelley was not reported injured.

A report on Nash Heagney's condition was not available at press time, and Flores was treated and released, CPMC officials said.

Shaffer was eastbound on I-76 near the Highway 34 interchange near Wiggins when the tread came off the right rear tire, throwing the vehicle out of control, Hill said.

The SUV went into the median, rolling twice, then into the westbound lanes, rolling another 1-3/4 turns, the officer added.

A westbound car driven by Dale L. Riha, 62, of Shellsburg, Iowa, hit debris as he attempted to dodge the other vehicle. He and passenger Linda L. Riha, age not listed, of Shellsburg were wearing seat belts and were not reported hurt.

I-76 was closed from about 3:30 to 6:45 p.m. following the crash, and traffic was diverted to Highway 34.

Alcohol or drugs may have been a factor in the accident, Hill said.

 

ChaserCon: The National Storm Chasers Convention 2013

Gary R. Adler, Neva Andersen, a Storm Chaser from Minnesota, and Storm pose with DOW6 mobile weather unit of the National Science Foundation.

Gary R. Adler and Storm pose for a photo with Weather Channel's Dr. Greg Forbes at ChaserCon 2013.

Gary and Storm have been re-certified by having completed the 2013 Advanced SKYWARN Training given by Robert Glancey, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at National Weather Service.

DENVER SAR PURCHASES COLUMBINE PAVER

A contribution was made to the The Frank DeAngelis Columbine High School Academic Foundation by Denver SAR to purchase a "Columbine Paver" to be laid into the new courtyard at the school. The brick will be engraved in three lines as follows:

"DENVER SAR"

"Gary R. Adler"

"SAR Dog Jacob"

in honor of our service at the scene of the tragedy on 4/20/99.