Three Injured in Highway 50 Crash Near Rocky Ford; DFPC Employee Cited

Description: Three people were hospitalized after a DFPC truck collided with a Toyota RAV4 on Highway 50 near Rocky Ford. The DFPC driver was cited for careless driving. Read the full Press release from Colorado State Patrol Public Affairs Office...

Colorado State Patrol Investigating Crash on Highway 50

The roadway is reopened

(OTERO COUNTY, COLO) - On July 22, 2026, at approximately 11:03 a.m., the Colorado State Patrol responded to a crash on Highway 50 near milepost 357, just west of Rocky Ford, CO.

The crash involved a Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) white Silverado truck and a white Toyota Rav4.

Preliminary reports indicate the DFPC truck was westbound on Highway 50, while the Rav4 was traveling eastbound. The DFPC truck turned left from Highway 50 onto Otero County Road 10 and entered the path of the eastbound Toyota Rav4, resulting in a crash.

The 33-year-old male driver of the DFPC truck, an arson investigator and employee with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, was transported to a local area hospital. At the time of the crash, he was not responding to a work-related incident, and no emergency lights or sirens were activated. The extent of his injuries is unknown at this time.

The 75-year-old male driver and 70-year-old female passenger of the Rav4 were transported to a local area hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown at this time.

The 33-year-old male driver, Curtis O'Leary, was cited for Careless Driving.

Both directions of Highway 50 were closed at milepost 357 for approximately 2 hours. The roadway reopened at approximately 1:04 p.m. before being closed again for a short period to allow for vehicle recovery operations. Highway 50 has since fully reopened in both directions at approximately 3:38 p.m. Traffic was being diverted to Otero County Road 9 during the closure. Check COtrip.org for traffic delays or closures.

The Colorado State Patrol is the lead agency for the crash. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Charges are merely accusations until and unless a suspect is convicted of a crime. All suspects and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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