Videos Login Subscribe Renew E-edition
logo
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
  • News
  • Features
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Letters
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
    • Place a Classified
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Legal Notices
    • Read Statewide Legal Notices
  • Archives
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
      • Columns
      • Letters
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Place a Classified
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
    • Legal Notices
      • Read Statewide Legal Notices
    • Archives
Fatal accident under investigation
The road has been closed this morning for the emergency near the intersection of Highway 550 and County Road 17, near the Whispering Pines neighborhood. Map courtesy CDOT
News
By Erin McIntyre on May 30, 2024
Update: Victim of accident identified as 22-year-old man
Fatal accident under investigation

UPDATE:

4:45 p.m. Friday — The man who died in Thursday’s accident on Highway 550 near County Road 17 between Ouray and Ridgway has been identified as 22-year-old Manuel David Jocobi Nunez.

Nunez, originally from Mexico, lived in Ouray for a couple of months working at local establishments, according to Ouray County Coroner Glenn Boyd.

_______________

UPDATE:

1:15 p.m. Thursday — The person who died in this morning’s accident is a 21-year-old man, according to Ouray County Coroner Glenn Boyd. The man’s name has not yet been released because authorities are still trying to contact next of kin.

A previous version of this story has been updated to indicate the victim of the accident was a man, not a woman.

_______________

UPDATE:

10:10 a.m. Thursday – Both Highway 550 and County Road 17 are fully open to traffic.

_______________

UPDATE:

8:05 a.m. Thursday – Both lanes of Highway 550 are open again, though County Road 17 remains closed.  The Colorado State Patrol has determined there was only one occupant of the vehicle, a Chevy sedan which is being recovered from the river this morning. The man’s identity has not been released, pending notification of kin by the Ouray County coroner.

The accident was reported at 4:41 a.m. by a passerby who saw tail lights in the river, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

_______________

The Colorado State Patrol is investigating a fatal accident this morning, involving an upside-down vehicle in the Uncompahgre River north of Ouray.

CSP Sgt. Patrick Rice said the agency is still working to determine what happened in the accident, which is located near the intersection of County Road 17 and U.S. Highway 550, at the turn for the Whispering Pines neighborhood.

“Search and rescue has determined there is at least one person inside the vehicle,” said Rice.

According to Ouray County Undersheriff Tammy Stroup, County Road 17 is closed at the intersection with the highway and Highway 550 has one lane of alternating traffic at mile marker 96. The Colorado State Patrol will be handling the accident investigation but local law enforcement is securing the scene and assisting with traffic.

 

The road has been closed this morning for the emergency near the intersection of Highway 550 and County Road 17, near the Whispering Pines neighborhood.
Map courtesy CDOT

 

Ouray School is delaying its start time until 10 a.m. due to the closure.

There are no local detours available for the route, so anyone who can avoid traveling in the area until the road is reopened is asked to avoid the scene.

Smoke blankets Ouray County as wildfires burn in region
News
Smoke blankets Ouray County as wildfires burn in region
By Mike Wiggins 
July 11, 2025
Heavy smoke and haze choked Ouray County for a second straight day Friday as a series of wildfires churned through tinder-dry trees and brush in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. The Colora...
this is a test
Signs of trouble in Ouray
Main, News...
Signs of trouble in Ouray
City halts production after public backlash over size, appearance of wayfinding signs
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 9, 2025
Ouray business owners and residents threw up a symbolic stop sign in front of the city council on Monday, urging city leaders to pause or altogether abandon plans to install dozens of new wayfinding s...
this is a test
Go Fourth and celebrate
Main, News...
Go Fourth and celebrate
July 9, 2025
The crowd cheers as a fire department tanker truck sprays the wet side of the street during the July 4 parade in Ouray. Ouray Tourism and Destination Marketing Director Kailey Rhoten said cellular dat...
this is a test
Main, News...
County scrambles to pay for road repairs from rockfall
Leaders pull from multiple sources to cover $300,000 tab, look to replenish emergency fund
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
July 9, 2025
Ouray County is scraping together money to pay for emergency repairs on County Road 361 while looking for ways to replenish its emergency fund in anticipation of other disasters. During a work session...
this is a test
News
Hot Springs moves forward with upgrades
Council OKs bathhouse design contract; pipeline replacement, heat exchange system on tap this fall
By By Lia Salvatierra and Mike Wiggins lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com 
July 9, 2025
A series of much-anticipated upgrades to the Ouray Hot Springs Pool is coming together, with the city beginning infrastructure replacements this fall and searching for ways to pay for building a new b...
this is a test
News
Foyster named to Planning Commission
By Plaindealer Staff 
July 9, 2025
Pam Foyster of Ridgway has been appointed to the Ouray County Planning Commission with her term ending April 30, 2028. Foyster, a semi-retired nurse, also serves on the Ridgway Planning Commission. Bo...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
News
Woman rescued from Ouray Via Ferrata
By Plaindealer Staff 
July 9, 2025
A 42-year-old Denver woman was rescued on July 3 after she fell and broke her leg while climbing in the Ouray Via Ferrata, according to the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team. The woman was climbing the upstr...
this is a test
News
County pauses changes to event center fee schedule
By Plaindealer Staff 
July 9, 2025
Fees to use the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds will not change for now. Ouray County commissioners decided Tuesday to hold off approving a new fee schedule until they better understand ...
this is a test
News
Sex assault trial reset for January
By Plaindealer Staff 
July 9, 2025
The trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in 2023 has been rescheduled for January. Seventh Judicial Chief District Judge Cory Jackson scheduled an eight-day trial to begin ...
this is a test
News
County OKs relocation of Log Hill mailboxes
By Plaindealer Staff 
July 9, 2025
Ouray County commissioners unanimously approved a plan Tuesday to relocate a series of mailboxes for Fairway Pines subdivision residents on Log Hill Mesa. The board approved a memorandum of understand...
this is a test
A patriotic way to celebrate the Fourth
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
A patriotic way to celebrate the Fourth
By Erin McIntyre 
July 9, 2025
"Are you the newspaper? Are we gonna be in the paper?" These are questions I hear when people see me taking photos at parades. I usually shrug my shoulders and smile, because the truth is I don't know...
this is a test
Facebook

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
Office address:

195 S Lena St. Unit D
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Ouray County Plaindealer

  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Accessibility Policy