Texas woman killed in Utah crash on I-70

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Officials believe alcohol played a part in a fatal accident on I-70 near the Utah-Colorado border that left one Texas woman dead and another in critical condition Tuesday.

The Dodge Caravan was about 11 miles from the border on the Utah side when the eastbound vehicle ran off the road and then overcorrected and skidded across both eastbound lanes just after 9 a.m., according to the Utah Highway Patrol. Troopers say the vehicle then drove off the road and smashed into a fence, rolling over once, coming to rest on its top entangled with the fence.

The driver of the vehicle, 67-year-old Vivian Cooper of San Antoni0, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her passenger, 52-year-old Tamra Kindred, also of San Antonio, had to be extricated from the vehicle. Emergency responders transported her by medical helicopter to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo., in critical condition.

Both victims were wearing seatbelts and remained in the vehicle during the crash.

The accident is still under investigation.

— Lana Groves