Two Durango residents who died in separate car crashes were under the influence of alcohol, according to coroner reports.
David Grant White, 30, died May 10 after his 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee flipped and landed in an irrigation ditch along East Animas Road (County Road 250).
The crash was reported about 11 p.m. May 10.
His body was found four days later under water in the irrigation ditch.
He had a blood-alcohol level of 0.391, almost five times the legal driving limit of 0.08 in Colorado.
The cause of death was asphyxia and drowning, according to the La Plata County coroner’s report.
Skye Colleen (McMahon) Buswell, 33, died May 16 in a single-car rollover south of downtown Durango on Colorado Highway 3.
She was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center before being flown in critical condition to St. Anthony Hospital in Denver.
The crash occurred about 10:05 p.m. May 16 in the 1000 block of Highway 3. Buswell was driving a maroon 1997 Ford Explorer southbound. She was ejected from the vehicle, but it appears she was wearing a seat belt. She had injuries consistent with seat-belt usage, according to the coroner’s report.
She suffered a serious brain injury, and it was determined life support would be withdrawn.
A blood sample taken at Mercy revealed a blood-alcohol level of 0.188, about two times the legal driving limit.
The cause of death was head trauma.
shane@durangoherald.com
