A New Mexico man accused of stealing a vehicle in Durango and then leading a police chase through Silverton pleaded guilty Monday to charges related to the September incident.
Christopher Bagwell, 21, plead guilty to felony motor vehicle theft and vehicular eluding.
He will be sentenced Jan. 3, when charges of vehicular assault, reckless driving and criminal impersonation will likely be dismissed in a plea agreement.
Bagwell is suspected of stealing a van Sept. 5 from a construction site in north Durango, and later, reportedly driving drunk at a campground near Silverton.
When San Juan County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to pull over Bagwell, he sped off, eventually driving off U.S. Highway 550, striking a tree on the south side of Molas Pass. His wife, Amanda Davalos, who was in the passenger seat, was airlifted to Mercy Regional Medical Center.
Davalos was not charged in the incident, but was extradited to New Mexico on unrelated charges.
Bagwell also faces charges in New Mexico and Texas.
