A serious two-vehicle crash at a Grand Junction intersection last month has led to an arrest. Police say the driver responsible was speeding before slamming into a stopped car, leaving one person still recovering in the hospital.
High-Speed Collision at Busy Intersection
Grand Junction Police responded to a violent crash at the intersection of N 1st Street and North Avenue on January 31. Officers arrived to find two severely damaged vehicles and both drivers needing immediate medical attention.
Investigators determined that a white van was traveling eastbound at an excessive speed when it crashed into the back of a passenger vehicle that had stopped at a red light. The force of the impact was devastating, leaving the smaller vehicle with extensive damage. Authorities quickly ruled out street racing as a contributing factor, but suspicions of impaired driving soon surfaced.
Driver Identified and Arrested After Hospital Stay
The driver of the van, identified as 37-year-old Ragnar Nickolas Kristl, was seriously injured in the crash. He was transported to a local hospital, where he remained under medical care for weeks. Once discharged, authorities wasted no time in securing an arrest warrant.
Kristl was taken into custody without incident on February 21. He is currently being held at the Mesa County Detention Facility, facing multiple charges related to the crash.
List of Charges Filed Against Kristl
Kristl is now facing a series of serious charges, including:
- Vehicular Assault – Reckless Driving Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury
- Vehicular Assault – Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury
- Reckless Driving
- Careless Driving
- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs
These charges suggest that law enforcement believes Kristl’s actions were not just dangerous but criminally negligent.
Victim Remains in the Hospital
While Kristl is now in custody, the driver of the passenger vehicle is still recovering in the hospital. No further details on their condition have been released.
Authorities have not disclosed whether additional charges could be filed pending further investigation. For now, the case remains open as police continue reviewing evidence and witness statements.
