Olga Snowberger, the wife of Durango School District 9-R Superintendent Dan Snowberger, was seriously injured Friday night in a multiple car crash east of Durango and flown to Denver for medical care.
Dan Snowberger will take an extended medical leave to support his wife as she recovers, and Deputy Superintendent Andrew Burns will temporarily lead the district until Snowberger’s return, said Julie Popp, 9-R spokeswoman.
Burns issued an email statement for the district Tuesday stating: “Dan and Olga Snowberger were involved in a serious car accident on Friday, November 30, 2018. Olga Snowberger was airlifted to Denver where she is still receiving critical care for the significant injuries she sustained.”
Olga Snowberger is employed as a paraprofessional at District 9-R.
Burns said Olga Snowberger suffered multiple fractures to her pelvis and significant bruising. Dan Snowberger was not injured.
Colorado State Patrol Trooper Jeff Chmielewski said about 10:30 p.m. the Snowbergers had stopped their Jeep SUV behind a vehicle that had halted to allow someone to clear a deer from the highway at mile marker 92 on U.S. Highway 160, about a mile east of Elmore’s Corner.
A Honda, driven by a 17-year-old juvenile from Silverton, rear-ended the Snowbergers.
Olga Snowberger was outside the Snowbergers’ Jeep when she was hit by another car, after a 2011 Buick sedan driven by Louis Norton, 81, of Bayfield side-swiped both the Honda and the Jeep. Chmielewski was unsure if the Buick clipped Olga Snowberger or one of the parked cars was nudged and hit her.
Burns said Jackie Oros, 9-R’s chief academic officer, will support him during Snowberger’s absence. No other administrative changes at 9-R are planned.
Burns said the length of Snowberger’s leave has not been determined.
State Patrol Capt. Adrian Driscoll said two separate reports were written for the incident, but they had not been filed as of Tuesday evening.
Chmielewski said Olga Snowberger was first taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center before being flown to St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood.
Popp said the Snowbergers were en route home after attending a concert at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
Olga Snowberger was listed Tuesday in “fair” condition at St. Anthony Hospital.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
