Staff Writer
A Pagosa Springs man is facing charges following a Valentine’s Day accident that left two passengers seriously injured.
On Feb. 14, at approximately 1:18 a.m., Pagosa Springs Police Department Sgt. T.J. Fitzwater was dispatched to a report of a single-car accident with injuries, said Det. Scott Maxwell.
According to incident reports, the driver of the vehicle went to The Springs Resort following the accident, but, when Fitzwater arrived, the driver was no longer there, Maxwell said.
Fitzwater then went to the scene of the accident, at Hot Springs Boulevard and U.S. 160, Maxwell said. The vehicle was located on its side off of the roadway near the athletic field at Town Park.
Upon arrival, Fitzwater found that a passenger with serious injuries remained in the car, and an ambulance was called. Further investigation revealed that there had been another passenger, as well.
According to the accident report, the passenger left in the vehicle was Christopher Young, and the passenger who left the vehicle was Shaina Myers, both of Pagosa Springs.
It was determined that the vehicle had been traveling at approximately 36 mph when it apparently skidded on ice, left the roadway and came to rest on its side in the area of the embankment, Maxwell reported.
The driver, Brandon Vaughn, 25, of Pagosa Springs, as well as the second passenger, Myers, were located about 20 minutes later at their residence on North 7th Street, Maxwell said.
Incident reports indicated the driver sustained minor injuries.
Arrest charges on Vaughn for the incident include leaving the scene of an accident, vehicular assault, careless driving, DUI and DUI per se.
Official charges have not been filed with the courts yet, but Deputy District Attorney Alex Lowe indicated several felony charges are possible, including child abuse, noting that a minor was left home alone at the time of the accident.
randi@pagosasun.com
