13th STREET & SANTA FE AVENUE LABELED DANGEROUS INTERSECTION
Officers holding the marker for the surveying equipment
where a fatal accident occurred on June 24, 2017.
On June 28, 2017, Pueblo Police officers were observed surveying the intersection of 13th Street and Santa Fe Avenue. Sergeant Howard Jackson, Officers Richard Burns, Chris Alarid, and Corporal Richard Wojcik, were surveying the intersection due to a fatal accident that occurred at 7:05 p.m., on June 24, 2017. The fatal accident involved a vehicle and a motorcycle. The drivers involved were Jesus G. Parez, and Dominic Raymond Manchego. The accident resulted in the death of a female, Viola Delinger, a resident of Pueblo, who was the passenger on the motorcycle.
The collision on the 24th of June is noted as being the 14th traffic altercation at the intersection of 13th and Santa Fe since January, 2017. There is now an ongoing investigation to find out why the intersection is so prone to accidents.
Sergeant Jackson stated in a phone interview on July 11, 2017, "Inattentive drivers. distracted drivers, and people who are just not paying attention to what they are doing, seem to be the main reasons for altercations at the intersection of 13th Street and Santa Fe Avenue."
13th and Santa Fe is located a block and a half away from Mineral Palace Park, and a half a block from Interstate 25. There are left-turn arrows going north and south on Santa Fe, but only one arrow on 13th, going west. Police are investigating whither there is enough time from when the arrows turn red, and opposing traffic light turns green, for traffic to proceed safely. Also located just one building away from the accident prone intersection, is the Mineral Palace Towers, a senior living HUD apartment complex, and home to the Housing Authority, City of Pueblo. Because of all the traffic, due to the number of residents at the Tower, and people visiting HUD, 13th and Santa Fe is an extremely busy intersection. Parkview Medical Center is also located a couple of blocks away, and adds to the excessive amount of traffic that frequents the intersection.
Officers measure and mark the accident scene.
Officers look for a signal to move survey equipment
Officers compare measurements.
Westbound lane on 13th Street is blocked off.
Eastbound lane on 13th is also blocked off.
Any time there is an accident involving a fatality,
the scene is always surveyed.
The car and motorcycle accident occurred just west of Santa Fe Ave. on 13th St.
Officers are seen looking at skid marks on the street.
An ambulance, not involved, just happened to be passing by as a sad reminder
of the tragic event, when Viola Delinger lost her life on June 24,2017.
