The local community has expressed grief and offered condolences Friday after two women died in a car accident a day earlier, east of Durango.
The victims were 82-year-old Hwaja “Grandma” Chung of Durango, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and 65-year-old Lynn Gherardini of Bayfield. Gherardini was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Chung had been a cook and ran a restaurant in the 900 block of Main Avenue from 1989 to 1997, as well as an Asian-style deli in Skyridge. She also had worked off and on for Durango Natural Foods.
Gherardini was a long-time greeter and checker at Walmart, where she was employed at the time of her death.
A 40-year friend, who did not want to be named, described Gherardini as someone who was a “wonderful person, friend, mother and grandmother.”
“She worked her tail off at Walmart,” the friend said. “She was very kind and thoughtful. She would go back and forth to Albuquerque to help with her dad. I have a whole lot of respect and love for her.”
The crash was reported just before noon Thursday.
Chung was making a left turn from County Road 225A onto westbound U.S. Highway 160 in her 2010 Subaru when she collided with Gherardini’s 1991 Toyota pickup, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
Neither vehicle was carrying passengers.
jpace@durangoherald.com
