James Ellis pleaded guilty this week to a vehicular homicide and DUI charge stemming from a fatal crash near Mancos on March 30.
Judge Douglas Walker presided in Montezuma District Court on Wednesday and heard Ellis’ plea.
Ellis, 28, was driving in a pickup truck with two passengers on Road 31 just north of Colorado Highway 184 at about 11:30 p.m. on March 30, according to Colorado State Patrol. Ellis lost control of the truck, which traveled off the left side of the road and rolled multiple times, striking a mailbox, parked motorcycle, propane tank and several other items.
A 22-year-old woman died after she was partially ejected from the truck. Another passenger, a 31-year-old man, sustained minor injuries. No one in the truck wore seatbelts.
Ellis’s sentencing was set for Jan. 10 at 1:30 p.m. in district court. Prosecutors said several family members of the deceased victim were prepared to make statements.
