Colorado Driver Charged in Crash That Killed Family of Five

A tragic incident occurred last August when Samuel Conger, a 26-year-old man from Colorado, was driving his Ford F-150 and collided head-on with a GMC Yukon carrying an entire family of five. The crash took place on Highway 9 south of Kremmling in Grand County, resulting in the deaths of Manuel Cabral-Torres, 34; Andrea Banuelos-Salazar, 30; their daughter Maria Cabral-Banuelos, 12; son Manuel Cabral-Banuelos, 5; and youngest child Andres Cabral-Banuelos, 2.

According to the arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Conger was driving north when he suddenly veered into the southbound lane without attempting any braking maneuvers. He continued in this direction for hundreds of feet at speeds up to 86 mph before colliding with the Yukon, which was traveling south on Highway 9 within a posted speed limit of 65 mph.

Witnesses described Conger's vehicle as drifting erratically into oncoming traffic lanes and noted that he appeared "asleep or passed out" while driving. One motorist stated that he observed Conger through his rearview mirror just before the collision, while another reported seeing Conger's truck drift into their lane, forcing them to swerve to avoid a direct hit.

Following the impact, both vehicles spun around and caught fire, making it impossible for first responders to extricate the victims from the burning Yukon. Manuel Cabral-Torres was the only person who could be removed from the wreckage; however, all other passengers were trapped inside as flames engulfed the vehicle. Conger managed to exit his truck with assistance from bystanders and was airlifted to St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood for treatment of serious injuries.

Investigators utilized drone images, witness statements, and a momentum reconstruction to estimate Conger's speed at around 78-86 mph during the collision. They found no evidence suggesting that Conger attempted to brake or take evasive action before the crash occurred. This behavior is described in the affidavit as a "gross deviation from the standard of care" expected by a reasonable person.

The vehicles' electronic data recorders, which could have provided crucial information about their operation leading up to the collision, were severely damaged due to fire and could not be analyzed for usable data. Despite these challenges, law enforcement has charged Conger with five counts of criminally negligent homicide, one count per deceased family member.

This devastating incident underscores the critical importance of responsible driving practices and highlights the potential consequences of impaired or distracted driving on public roads. The community continues to mourn the loss of this beloved family while awaiting further developments in the legal proceedings against Samuel Conger.