A hit-and-run crash damaged a car parked on East Main Street during Friday’s lunch hour in Cortez.
According to witnesses at the scene of the crash, a westbound red van in the left lane failed to yield when moving to the right lane at the intersection of Market and Main streets.
A westbound burgundy sedan in the right lane braked and swerved to avoid the van, then sideswiped a parked vehicle in front of The Journal office. Both vehicles left the scene, according to witness Rodney Hatch. The squeal of brakes and minor crash turned heads and left skid marks.
The parked vehicle suffered a flat tire and damaged side panel and bumper. No one was injured.
“I thought I scored a good parking spot,” said the owner, Jim Engel, who was dining at a nearby restaurant. “At least we had a good lunch. The police were very helpful and changed our tire.”
Cortez Police Patrol Sgt. Rex Brinkerhoff said the incident was under investigation. Witnesses reported the license plate number of the fleeing vehicle to police.
