Driver Suspected Of Causing Deadly Highway 285 Crash Dies, Officials Say

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - The driver accused of causing a deadly crash on Highway 285 near Conifer has died, Colorado State Patrol said Saturday. They say the 36-year-old driver died on Friday afternoon.

(credit: CBS)

The crash occurred on Thursday when CSP says the driver of a red Dodge Ram tried to illegally pass another vehicle when they crashed head-on into a black pickup truck.

Diana Snell, a 55-year-old woman from Englewood and her 2-year-old granddaughter Jordan Snell, were in the truck and died in the crash. They were riding with two others in the black truck; those two victims were hospitalized.

(credit: CBS)

None of the adults in the black truck were wearing seatbelts, but the child was in a child safety seat.

(credit: CBS)

CSP says a passenger in the red truck was also hospitalized with serious injuries.

Speed and alcohol were considered factors in the crash.