Wiggins couple hospitalized after crash on U.S. 34 near 95th Avenue
Vanessa Delgado
August 5, 2006
Scattered pieces of metal and shattered glass surrounded what was left of a green Nissan pickup after an accident Friday on U.S. 34 that sent a Wiggins couple to the hospital.
The accident occurred shortly after 2 p.m. Friday off U.S. 34 just west of 95th Avenue. Police said the truck was traveling east on U.S. 34 when it hit a concrete culvert off the highway before running into a ditch.
Sgt. Brad Goldschmidt of the Greeley Police Department said that the driver, Raymond Bear, had a medical condition that may have impaired his ability to drive and in-turn caused him to drive off the road.
When police arrived, the truck was in a ditch about 150 feet from where it had rolled off the highway. No other vehicles were involved, but the accident backed up traffic on U.S. 34 for more than for two hours.
Raymond Bear was unresponsive when police arrived; he was taken to the hospital by helicopter after being extricated from the truck. The passenger, Suzanne Bear, was responsive and taken to the hospital by ambulance.
"Once they got down and assessed the driver and the passenger that's when they made the decision to call the helicopter," said Dale Lyman, battalion chief for Union Colony.
Raymond Bear was in serious but stable condition Friday night at North Colorado Medical Center, said Rebecca Bizzell, a nursing supervisor. Suzanne Bear was treated and released. Both were from Wiggins.