A 19-year old Durango man who was killed by a vehicle near Grand Junction on Thursday was ruled “at–fault” for walking out into traffic, according to Colorado State Patrol.
Trooper Tim Sutherland said Thomas Artyom Huber was hit shortly before 11 p.m. as he attempted to cross the northbound lane of U.S. Interstate 70 Business Loop near the intersection with 32 Road in Clifton, about six miles east of Grand Junction. Huber was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital, where he died about 3 a.m.
“We have no indication of why he was crossing the road at this time,” Sutherland said. “So because he’s running out into traffic, that’s why we determined he’s at-fault.”
The Mesa County Coroner’s Office said a toxicology test that would determine whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the incident would not be available for six to eight weeks.
The coroner’s office ruled the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries resulting from an accident.
Sutherland said the driver of the vehicle was not intoxicated and was not issued any citations.
