Safety guidelines followed in fatal U.S. 6 CDOT crash

A Colorado State Patrol investigation determined the two Colorado Department of Transportation workers killed Wednesday after being hit by a Jeep driver on U.S. 6 near Palisade were following proper safety guidelines.

On Friday, CSP issued an update to the investigation into the deadly crash that killed CDOT employees Trent Umberger and Nate Jones and Jeep passenger Kathi Ann Wallace of Grand Junction.

The Jeep was westbound on U.S. 6 near milepost 40, CSP said. The CDOT vehicle, a Ford F-450, was completely off the right side of the road with its lights and sign board activated, CSP said.

Umberger and Jones were wearing their safety vests and standing behind the truck removing a sign from the bed when the driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee ran off the right side of the road, hitting Umberger and Jones and the back of the truck.

This investigation is ongoing and charges are pending at this time.