New details released in crash that killed 2 CDOT workers, Jeep passenger

PALISADE, Colo. — The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) released new details Friday about a deadly crash that killed two Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) workers and a vehicle passenger near Palisade.

CSP said a Jeep Grand Cherokee was going west on U.S. 6 near milepost 40 at 10:42 a.m. Wednesday when it ran off the right side of the road, hitting the workers and the back of their Ford F-450.

The Ford was parked completely off the road and had its lights and sign board activated. The workers were wearing safety vests and were standing behind the truck, removing a sign from the bed, when the crash happened, CSP said.

Both workers were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified as 43-year-old Trent Umberger and 23-year-old Nathan Jones.

Umberger was hired by CDOT in 2017 and was a transportation maintenance professional who worked in Grand Junction. He also supported the Vail Pass patrol on the Interstate 70 corridor during the winters as part of the joint operations team.

Jones was also a transportation maintenance professional who worked in Grand Junction. He was in the CDOT Maintenance Apprenticeship Program and was on schedule to be one of the first to complete the program in December.

A passenger in the Jeep was also taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. She was identified as Kathi Ann Wallace, 67, from Grand Junction.

The driver of the Jeep was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and later released. No other injuries were reported.

The investigation is ongoing, and charges are pending, according to CSP. The Mesa County District Attorney’s Office will make the final determination on the potential filing of any charges.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) ordered flags to fly at half-staff on Monday in remembrance of Umberger and Jones.