A Durango man died this weekend after a driving off County Road 501 near Vallecito.

Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis said the wreckage was found by a passerby around 11:30 a.m. Sunday near Cool Water Ranch, about 2 miles southwest of Vallecito and about 19 miles northeast of Durango.

Lewis said the crash likely occurred hours before, either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Investigators believe the driver, identified as Jesus Gutierrez, 29, failed to make a curve, hit a tree and rolled multiple times off the right side of County Road 501.

Gutierrez was ejected 10 to 15 feet, La Plata County Coroner Smith said.

Lewis said Gutierrez was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected through the sunroof of the 2011 Buick Regal.

Smith said an autopsy will be conducted Thursday. She said alcohol and speed are considered contributing factors in the crash.

Smith said Gutierrez was originally from Mexico but had lived with family in Durango for the past couple of years.

jromeo@durangoherald.com