A Bayfield man has been charged with two counts of careless driving in relation to a car accident last September that left one dead and one severely injured.
Christopher Grover, 34, was advised of his rights and charges Wednesday at Montezuma County Court.
Charged with one count of careless driving causing injury and one count of careless driving causing death, Grover could face up to 12 months in jail and lose four points from his driver’s license for each charge.
According to information from the Cortez Police Department, a Ford Focus with three occupants was heading eastbound on U.S. Highway 160 near the Lakeside Lanes Bowling Alley at approximately 9 p.m. Sept. 14, 2011, when it smashed into a light pole. Rainy conditions were believed to have contributed to the crash.
The driver, who was wearing a seat belt, was identified as Grover.
Neither of the two passengers was wearing a seat belt, and both were ejected from the vehicle. Jacob Wittmier, 26, of Washington state, was killed, and Jeremy Graves, 27, of Raleigh N.C., was severely injured.
The three men were reportedly employed at Mesa Verde National Park.
Reach Reid Wright at reidw@cortezjournal.com