No felony charges in double-fatal accident

No felony charges will be filed against the truck driver involved in a fatal accident that claimed the lives of two people near El Jebel earlier this month, according to the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors reviewed the case and concluded the Colorado State Patrol took appropriate action in issuing four misdemeanor tickets against truck driver Mark Chamness, 48, of Littleton, in the Jan. 8 accident, Deputy District Attorney Jim Leuthauser said.

“Any county court case could end up with felony charges,” Leuthauser said, but he doesn’t believe that will happen.

Chamness is scheduled to appear in Garfield County Court on Feb. 4.

The citations given Chamness allege careless driving causing death, careless driving causing bodily injury, stopping in an intersection when prohibited and violating a permit by operating during hours of darkness, according to the accident report.

The collision occurred approximately one mile east of Catherine Store on Colorado Highway 82, between Carbondale and El Jebel, when Chamness pulled his tractor-trailer across the highway, according to the report.

A westbound 2000 Kia Sephia slammed into the trailer around 6:40 a.m., the report said. The driver, Elizeo Trinidad, 21, and front-seat passenger Noemy Ramos, 23, were killed instantly. A back-seat passenger, Julio Hernandez-Mendoza, was seriously injured. Source