1 day Ago By Aspen Daily News Staff
Alpine Bank has established an account for Basalt residents Lori and Mitch Knotts, who were seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 82 downvalley last Friday. They were reportedly airlifted to Denver for medical treatment following a two-vehicle collision at the highway's intersection with Cattle Creek Road. Colorado State Patrol responded to the incident at 9:11 a.
m., CSP Public Information Officer Sherri Mendez said. The highway was fully closed before one lane in each direction was reopened in early afternoon.
Cleanup of 25 gallons of spilled diesel, presumably from one of the vehicles’ fuel tanks, slowed the process. Images posted to social media showed a Dodge Ram that was jackknifed in the median with a two-axle camper trailer in tow, and a commercial dump truck that was parallel to the road across the eastbound lanes. Lori and Mitch Knotts had been inside of the Dodge Ram.
Donations can be made at any Alpine Bank or checks can be mailed to: Alpine Bank Aspen, 600 E. Hopkins, Aspen, CO 81611, Attention Erin Earley. Make the check out to “Lori or Mitch Knotts.
” The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with investigators from the Garfield County SPEAR (Special Problem Enforcement and Response) Task Force found a large cache of drugs during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 near Parachute. Deputies and investigators located approximately 59.64 pounds of suspected counterfeit OxyContin pills that are believed to contain the drug fentanyl, a sheriff’s office news release says.
The vehicle contained approximately 222,360 pills with an estimated street value of about $2.7 million. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Leslie Lopez-Rojas, 20, of Phoenix.
She was arrested on multiple charges that included importing a schedule II controlled substance into the state, a class 1 drug felony. Two additional accomplices were arrested. The investigation is ongoing, the release adds.
The sheriff’s office and SPEAR were assisted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Rifle Police Department and the Garfield County Emergency Communication Authority. The Rifle Police Department reported that a man was arrested on Tuesday without incident in Eagle County on a felony warrant stemming from a Rifle case involving sexual assault on a child. Police issued a news release on Wednesday that says Carlos Javier Morales-Delgado, 46, was booked into the Garfield County Jail on the following charges: sexual assault, a class 4 felony; and unlawful sexual contact, a class 1 misdemeanor.
He was subsequently released from custody, jail records show. Rifle police thanked the Eagle County Sheriff's Office and the GRANITE Task Force (Gore Range Narcotics Interdiction Team) for “exceptional assistance in bringing this case to a close. Their commitment to public safety and willingness to support neighboring communities is invaluable.
” The release adds that no further information will be provided concerning the incident..
