Passenger Killed In Shuttle Van Crash Now Identified
LARIMER COUNTY, Colo (CBS4) - A 72-year-old man who died in a crash involving a shuttle van on Interstate 25 has been identified.
The 15-passenger van was traveling northbound on I-25 and changed lanes, hitting a sedan.
The van veered off the road into the median and rolled over.
The Weld County Coroner's Office identified the man who died as Philip Kent Melcher. They say he served with the Compania de Maria community in Lima, Peru.
Kizzy Sinar, 19, of Bristol, England was one of the passengers on board. She sat behind Melcher.
"I remember seeing him as the van overturned seeing him just get lifted off his seat," she told CBS4 investigator Rick Sallinger.
She says Melcher ended up on top her.
"I was struggling to get him off me. I didn't know what was going on. I was in shock. I tried shaking his shoulders trying to wake him up," Sinar said.
Melcher was born in the states, and visiting the U.S. when the crash happened.
Five other people in the van, including the driver, were sent to the hospital. The two people inside the sedan were not hurt.
Sinar says she blacked out from a concussion. She also suffered bruises to the head, neck and required a dozen stitches to the inside of her lip. She was wearing her seatbelt.
"I'm going to make a full recovery, other than that, I'm pretty much fine," Sinar said.
Copter4 flew over the crash, which showed a van with the works "Estes Park Shuttle" on the side and "Aiport Service" on the front.
Sinar's trip had been planned for a year.
"I've always been a big fan of Colorado it's always been a very beautiful state," she said.
She had planned to go to Rocky Mountain National Park to take in it's wildlife and natural beauty.
"It's like it's the right place. It's where I exactly want to be," Sinar explained.
Now she has been told to rest and not do the backpacking she had planned.
Troopers say drugs and/or alcohol are not considered as factors.
Investigators are asking anyone who witnesses the crash or events leading up to it to call Trooper Yoder with information at 970-590-7196.