About noon Sunday, a white Ford Taurus was turning north on U.S. 160 from County Road F and failed to yield to oncoming traffic, causing the driver of a southbound Dodge 2500 pickup to T-bone the vehicle, said Sgt. Rob Madden of the Colorado State Patrol.
The driver of the Taurus, 81-year-old Peggy Scates, of Cortez, died at Southwest Memorial Hospital. There were no passengers in her vehicle.
The driver of the Dodge pickup, 25-year-old Justin Duncan, of Shiprock, was treated for minor injuries. His pickup carried one passenger, who did not sustain injuries.
Earlier reports that five people were in the two vehicles were incorrect, according to Madden.
The highway reopened to traffic about 3 p.m., Madden said.