Grand Junction police say a driver crossed into oncoming traffic Sunday evening and slammed head-on into another vehicle on Highway 6 & 50, killing one person and sending another to the hospital.
The wreck happened just after 5 p.m. on February 2, west of the 24 Road intersection, one of the busiest stretches of the highway that cuts straight through Grand Junction.
Police confirmed Monday morning the at-fault driver died at the hospital. The second driver suffered only minor injuries.
Emergency crews found both cars heavily damaged in the westbound lanes. Firefighters had to extricate at least one person from the wreckage.
What We Know So Far
Grand Junction Police responded to the crash at 5:06 p.m. Initial reports show an eastbound sedan drifted across the center line and struck a westbound vehicle nearly head-on.
Witnesses told officers arriving on scene that the eastbound car “just kept coming” into the wrong lanes with no braking or correction before impact.
The driver who caused the crash was rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital with critical injuries but did not survive. The Mesa County Coroner’s Office will release the name after family is notified.
The second driver, who was alone in their vehicle, walked away with cuts and bruises and was treated and released the same night.
Highway Shut Down for Hours
Both directions of Highway 6 & 50 were closed between 24 Road and 25 Road for more than four hours while investigators worked the scene and crews cleared the wreckage.
That stretch carries more than 40,000 vehicles a day, and the closure forced thousands of drivers onto side streets through downtown Grand Junction Sunday evening.
A Dangerous Stretch of Road
This is the third fatal crash on Highway 6 & 50 inside Grand Junction city limits in the past 13 months.
In January 2024, a pedestrian was killed near 29 Road. In December 2023, a wrong-way driver caused a deadly chain-reaction wreck near Horizon Drive.
Local residents have complained for years about speeding, aggressive lane changes, and drivers running red lights at the signalized intersections along the corridor.
The Colorado Department of Transportation says the posted speed limit is 45 mph through that section, yet average speeds often exceed 55 mph, according to recent traffic studies.
Police Continue Investigation
Detectives with the Grand Junction Police Department’s Traffic Unit are still trying to determine why the eastbound car crossed the center line.
They are looking at possible distracted driving, impairment, medical episode, or mechanical failure.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash-cam video is asked to call GJPD at (970) 242-6707.
The crash remains under active investigation, and no charges will be filed against the deceased driver.
This tragedy on a familiar highway hits close to home for thousands of western Colorado families who travel that road every single day. One moment of lost focus or one wrong move can change everything in seconds.
Drive safe out there, Grand Junction.
