A Pagosa Springs man was found dead Feb. 18, more than a week after his family reported him missing, according to Archuleta County Undersheriff Tonya Hamilton.
John Charles Allen Sr., 47, went missing Feb. 10. His family reported him missing to the Pagosa Springs Police Department the next evening, saying Allen had left home without notifying anyone.
Around 6 p.m. Feb. 18, a manager at MASK Ranch reported a vehicle was in Mill Creek, off of Light Plant Road, just south of Pagosa Springs, Hamilton said.
Authorities ran the vehicle’s license plate number, which came back as belonging to Allen, Hamilton said. His body was found 30 feet downstream, and his family was notified later that evening.
A Colorado State Patrol report says Allen’s vehicle, a 2001 Audi, was southbound on Light Plant Road when it went over an embankment on a sharp left curve, flipping on its top into Mill Creek.
Authorities believe the crash occurred several days before it was discovered. Archuleta County coroner Dan Keuning did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.
According to an obituary, Allen grew up in Tujunga, California, north of Los Angeles. He attended San Bernardino Valley College, earning an automotive associate’s degree.
Allen moved to Pagosa Springs in 2007.
“John was a gifted auto mechanic, loved cars and collected Hot Wheels (miniature cars),” his obituary says. “John also loved fishing and the Colorado outdoors.”
Allen is survived by wife, Theresa; children Ashley and Thomas Allen, Albert Serrano, and Ariel and Justin Cervantes; parents, Larry and Monica Allen; brother Eric Allen; and grandmother Eloner Fabbri.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Crossroad Christian Fellowship, 1044 Park Ave., Pagosa Springs.
jromeo@durangoherald.com