Injury accidents, search and rescue keep sheriff’s office busy

RBC — Injury accidents rounded out the last few days of spring and a backcountry search and rescue rang in the first full day of summer for Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s deputies.
Sergeant Patrick Darrow and Meeker Volunteer Fire and Rescue personnel responded to 18800 Highway 13 June 15 at 5:20 p.m. for a two vehicle injury accident. The Careflight helicopter was also dispatched to the accident scene. Ivan Marzolf, 38, of Englewood, Colo. was driving a 1993 Chevrolet Corsica westbound across both lanes of Highway 13 at the top of a hill after leaving a parking area on the east side of the highway. Elaine Langstaff, 53, of Rifle, Colo. was driving south on Highway 13 in a 2002 Nissan Altima when she struck Marzolf nearly broadside, coming to rest on the west side of the highway. After the impact, Marzolf’s vehicle rotated 90 degrees coming to rest facing southeast in the southbound lane. Both drivers sustained minor injuries. Emma Fox, 46, of Englewood, who was a passenger in Marzolf’s vehicle, suffered broken ribs. Raymond Langstaff. 56, of Rifle, who was a passenger in Langstaff’s vehicle sustained a broken sternum. All parties were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. The accident is still under investigation with charges against Marzolf pending. Alcohol is suspected as a factor in the accident.
The Rio Blanco County Communications Center received a call from Williams Energy June 17 at 10:03 a.m. with a report of a driver who had suffered head injuries in a rollover accident. Michael McHugh, 35, of Grand Junction, Colo., was 4-wheeling in a 2000 Jeep approximately 30 miles south of Meeker on the MTW road with three passengers. McHugh rolled the vehicle several times. One of the passengers left the scene of the accident while McHugh and the two remaining passengers were assisted by workers in the area and subsequently brought to the nearby Frontier Drilling rig site. Deputy Travis Mobley and Meeker Volunteer Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the rig site. McHugh was transported to Pioneers Medical Center. The Bureau of Land Management is investigating the accident.
After receiving a report of two victims who were thrown from a mule in the Trapper’s Lake area June 21 at 2:20 p.m., Deputy Rob Baughman, Meeker Volunteer Fire and Rescue personnel and a backcountry search and rescue team were dispatched to locate the injured parties. Daniel Brewster, 59, of Fort Lupton, Colo., walked 1.5 miles to the road to call for help after being thrown. Approximately one hour after arriving in the area, Betty Brewster, 59, also of Fort Lupton, was carried out to the awaiting ambulance. Both parties were transported to Pioneers Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.