LIMON, Colo. – Investigators say a 16-year-old from Louisiana was driving a truck early Saturday morning when he struck and killed two Texas women while they were changing a flat tire along I-70 near Limon, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
37-year-old Michel Martin told investigators that he was driving at the time of the accident. He now faces a false reporting charge.
The teen, identified as Tristan Martin, left the scene with another party before officers arrived, according to the CSP. He later surrendered after being identified as the driver.
The younger Martin was charged with two counts of Failing to Remain at the Scene After an Accident Involving Death (a felony) and two counts of Careless Driving Caused Death (a misdemeanor).
The accident occurred around 6:30 a.m. Saturday when a 2003 Volvo truck-tractor towing a loaded horse trailer was traveling westbound on I-70. The truck drifted to the shoulder of the road near milepost 363 and struck the two victims.
After the collision, the truck stopped approximately ½ mile west of the crash scene.
The women have been identified as Shun Jones, 48, of Carrollton, Texas, and Amanda Omo-Iyamu, 38, of Balch Springs, Texas. An 18-year-old passenger in the vehicle, Lamarcus Lockett of Carrollton, was not injured.