BAYFIELD, Colo. — A devastating single vehicle rollover crash on Highway 160 has left two adults dead and a 5 year old child injured, according to Colorado State Patrol. Troopers were called to the scene around 12:35 p.m. Saturday on Highway 160 just east of Bayfield after reports of a serious crash.

When officials arrived, they discovered a heavily damaged blue Chevrolet S10 off the roadway. Investigators believe the crash occurred earlier in the morning, around 6 a.m. on Friday, but was not visible from the highway due to its location off the south shoulder. Authorities say the vehicle was traveling eastbound when it left the roadway, rolled down the embankment, and came to rest on its roof after rolling an unknown number of times. Three people were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash.

The driver, 25 year old Devante Griffin, and the passenger, 24 year old Klariza Tarango, both from Farmington, New Mexico, were pronounced dead at the scene. A 5 year old girl, also a passenger in the vehicle, survived the crash. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for injuries and later released.

The Crash: A Hidden Tragedy on Highway 160

The crash occurred on Highway 160 just east of Bayfield, Colorado. Bayfield is a small town in La Plata County, located in the southwestern part of the state, approximately 20 miles east of Durango. Highway 160 is a major east west highway that runs through the area, connecting Durango to Pagosa Springs and beyond. This stretch of road winds through mountainous terrain, with curves, hills, and steep embankments. At 6 a.m. on a Friday morning, the sun would have been rising, but visibility may have been affected by shadows, fog, or the angle of the light.

According to Colorado State Patrol, the blue Chevrolet S10 was traveling eastbound when it left the roadway. The driver lost control, or perhaps swerved to avoid an animal, or was affected by road conditions. The vehicle left the pavement and rolled down an embankment. The embankment is steep; the vehicle rolled an unknown number of times before coming to rest on its roof. The crash was severe. The S10, a compact pickup truck, sustained heavy damage.

Remarkably, the crash occurred around 6 a.m. on Friday, but it was not discovered until approximately 12:35 p.m. on Saturday. That is a gap of over 30 hours. The vehicle was not visible from the highway because it had rolled down the embankment and was hidden from view. No passing motorists saw the wreckage. No one reported the crash. The victims lay undiscovered for more than a day.

A passerby or a resident eventually spotted the vehicle or debris, leading to the 911 call. Troopers arrived to find a devastating scene: two adults deceased, a young child injured but alive.

The Victims: Devante Griffin, 25, and Klariza Tarango, 24, of Farmington, New Mexico

Devante Griffin was 25 years old. Klariza Tarango was 24 years old. Both were residents of Farmington, New Mexico. Farmington is a city in San Juan County, located in the northwestern corner of New Mexico, approximately 50 miles south of the Colorado border. It is a community of about 45,000 residents, known for its energy industry, its outdoor recreation, and its proximity to the Four Corners region.

Devante and Klariza were likely a couple, possibly the parents of the 5 year old girl. They were traveling together, perhaps heading to visit family, go on a trip, or return home. Their lives were cut short in a violent rollover crash. They were pronounced dead at the scene. The injuries were unsurvivable.

The original article does not provide biographical details about Devante or Klariza their occupations, their hobbies, their personalities. That information will emerge in the coming days as family members speak to the media and as obituaries are published. What is known is that they were young, that they were from Farmington, and that they are gone. They were driving on Highway 160 in Colorado when they left the roadway and rolled down an embankment.

The Survivor: A 5 Year Old Girl

A 5 year old girl, also a passenger in the vehicle, survived the crash. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for injuries and later released. The fact that she survived is a miracle. A rollover crash at highway speed, followed by a tumble down an embankment, would typically be fatal for all occupants. But this child survived.

The original article does not specify her injuries. She may have suffered broken bones, cuts, bruises, or internal injuries. She may have been wearing a seatbelt or properly secured in a car seat. Car seats save lives. She is now recovering, but she will carry the memory of this crash forever. She lost two loved ones. She will need counseling and support.

Her identity has not been released, likely to protect her privacy. She is now in the care of family members or foster care.

The Investigation: No Excessive Speed or Impairment

Colorado State Patrol stated that neither excessive speed nor impairment are currently believed to be factors in the crash. At this time, no charges are expected to be filed. This is a significant statement. It means that investigators believe the crash was not caused by speeding or by alcohol or drugs. Instead, the cause may be something else, such as:

• Driver fatigue: The crash occurred at 6 a.m. The driver may have been tired. Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.

• Distraction: A glance at a phone, a reach for a radio, or a conversation could have caused the driver to drift off the road.

• Mechanical failure: A tire blowout, brake failure, or steering malfunction could have caused the driver to lose control.

• Road conditions: The road may have been wet, icy, or covered with gravel. Wildlife may have appeared suddenly.

• Medical emergency: The driver may have suffered a heart attack, seizure, or other medical event.

The crash remains under investigation as authorities work to fully determine what led to the tragic rollover. The vehicle will be examined for mechanical issues. The scene will be analyzed for skid marks and debris. Witnesses may be interviewed.

The Scene: Highway 160 near Bayfield

The crash site is located on Highway 160 east of Bayfield. This area is rural, with limited lighting and cell service. The embankment is steep, and the vegetation may have obscured the wreckage. The vehicle was not visible from the road, which explains why it took over a day for the crash to be discovered.

The highway may have been closed temporarily while investigators processed the scene. For drivers who were delayed, the closure was an inconvenience. For the families of Devante and Klariza, it was irrelevant. Their loved ones were dead.

The Community: Farmington and Bayfield in Mourning

The communities of Farmington, New Mexico, and Bayfield, Colorado, are mourning the loss of Devante Griffin and Klariza Tarango. Farmington is a close knit city. The death of two young residents is a tragedy that touches everyone. Bayfield is a small town, and the crash has shaken its residents as well.

Devante’s family is devastated. Klariza’s family is devastated. They have lost children, siblings, friends. They are planning two funerals instead of celebrating milestones. The pain is immeasurable.

The 5 year old girl is now recovering. Her family is by her side, grateful that she survived, but grieving for the two who did not.

The Importance of Car Seats and Seatbelts

The survival of the 5 year old girl highlights the importance of proper child restraints. Children under 8 years old should be in a car seat or booster seat. These devices, when properly installed, can save lives in crashes that would otherwise be fatal.

It is not known whether Devante and Klariza were wearing seatbelts. The original article does not specify. If they were not, that may have contributed to their deaths. If they were, the force of the rollover was too great even for seatbelts to protect them.

Holding Onto Memories

As the investigation continues and the communities mourn, the families and friends of Devante Griffin and Klariza Tarango are left to do the hardest work of all. They must hold onto their memories of their loved ones while also confronting the reality of their deaths. They must grieve their losses while also caring for the surviving child. They must find a way to go on without them.

Devante was 25. Klariza was 24. They had their whole lives ahead of them. They had dreams that will never be fulfilled, love that will never be given, moments that will never be experienced. That is the unspeakable tragedy of young death. It is not just the loss of what was. It is the loss of what could have been.

But what was still matters. The years that Devante and Klariza lived, the people they loved, the joy they brought, the memories they created these things are not erased by their deaths. They remain. They are the inheritance of their families, their friends, and everyone who knew them. And as long as those memories are held and shared and cherished, Devante Griffin and Klariza Tarango will never truly be gone.

Conclusion: A Hidden Crash, A Tragic Discovery

The deaths of Devante Griffin, 25, and Klariza Tarango, 24, of Farmington, New Mexico, in a single vehicle rollover crash on Highway 160 near Bayfield, Colorado, is a tragedy that has left two families shattered and two communities in mourning. The crash occurred around 6 a.m. on Friday but was not discovered until Saturday afternoon because the vehicle was hidden off the south shoulder. A 5 year old girl survived and has been released from the hospital. Neither excessive speed nor impairment are believed to be factors. The investigation is ongoing.

As Farmington and Bayfield mourn, the communities stand together in grief, offering prayers and support to the families of Devante and Klariza, and to the surviving child. Rest in peace, Devante Griffin and Klariza Tarango. You were loved. You will be missed. And your memories will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew you. Gone too soon, forever remembered.