Authorities have identified the female driver who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a high-speed car chase early Tuesday on U.S. Highway 550, just south of Silverton.
Amanda Christine Maes, 30, died Tuesday on Molas Pass, said Audrey Simkins, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Simkins did not know where Maes was from Wednesday morning.
According to authorities, two passengers were in the vehicle.
One passenger, Stacey Sue Sam, 31, was arrested on unrelated charges to the car chase. A male passenger was questioned by police but not charged with any crimes.
Simkins did not have any additional information about the circumstances of the car chase Wednesday morning.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said the chase started in La Plata County and traveled north on Highway 550 toward Silverton.
Deputies stopped the vehicle just north of Molas Lake. It is unclear what happened after the vehicle was stopped. Ultimately, however, the Sheriff’s Office said Maes died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and one deputy was injured while trying to prevent her actions.
The deputy was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center but is expected to fully recover.
The Sheriff’s Office declined further comment and said CBI is leading the investigation.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
Suicide resources
Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering killing himself can be found from these sources:
Axis Health System:
24-hour hotline at 247-5245.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline:
(800) 273-TALK (8255) or text “TALK” to 741741.
RED Nacional de PrevencióN Del Suicidio:
(888) 628-9454.
National Crisis text Hotline:
741741
Fort Lewis College Counseling Center:
247-7212.
Boys Town Hotline:
(800) 448-3000.
Safe2Tell Colorado:
(877) 542-7233 or online at
.
Colorado Crisis Support Line:
(844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 or online at
www.coloradocrisisservices.org
to access a live chat available in 17 languages. The line has mental-health professionals available to talk to adults or youths about any crisis, 24 hours a day.
DURANGO CARES:
To see a full list of resources available in La Plata County, visit
.
Trevor Project:
(866) 488-7386. Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth via online chat, text or phone.
Second Wind Fund:
(720) 962-0706. This is not a crisis hotline, but the fund is available to youths who face social or financial barriers to crisis counseling. The organization requires a referral by a school counselor or mental-health professional.
Survivors Support GrouP:
Heartbeat of Durango meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at the Grief Center, 2243 Main Ave., second floor. Contact Janna for information at 749-1673.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
Colorado chapter information available at
https://afsp.org/chapter/afsp-colorado/
For Men:
A website for adult men contemplating suicide, who often are unwilling to seek help, is available at
.
