Log In


Reset Password
News Education Local News Nation & World New Mexico

Durango woman dies in crash

McNaughton, 63, involved in head-on collision

A Durango woman was killed in a head-on crash Tuesday afternoon on U.S. Highway 160.

The accident occurred about 4:35 p.m. at mile marker 79, about one mile west of Lightner Creek Road (County Road 207) west of Durango city limits.

The woman, 63-year-old Tomi McNaughton, was traveling westbound when her Subaru Outback went off the right side of the road. She over-corrected and went into oncoming traffic, said Cpl. Chris Balenti,with the Colorado State Patrol. The Chevy Avalanche pickup truck, driven by Bradley Palmer, 56, from Texas, tried to swerve to avoid the collision but was unsuccessful.

Colorado State Patrol Capt. Adrian Driscoll was able to release the names after next of kin were notified later Tuesday.

Both had to be extracted from their vehicles and were transported to Mercy Regional Medical Center, where McNaughton later died. Palmer was listed in fair condition at about 8:40 p.m., according to Mercy spokesman David Bruzzese.

Traffic was rerouted on Colorado Highway 140 at Hesperus and Wildcat Canyon Road (County Road 141). The highway was closed for about 50 minutes.

Besides personnel from Durango Fire Protection District, officers from the Colorado State Patrol and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office were on scene.

shane@durangoherald.com



Reader Comments