Couch on I-25 causes fiery crash; teen driver issues plea for drivers to secure loads
KDVR Fox 31
ERIE, Colo. (KDVR) — Colorado State Patrol believes a futon couch on the highway is to blame for a crash that sent two people to the hospital after they swerved to avoid it.
The dangerous debris on the road caused a car to flip, crash and catch fire. This was on Interstate 25 northbound between Highway 7 and Erie Parkway around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
It happened as 18-year-old Danniel Gaviria was trying to make it home with his 10-year-old sister in the backseat. It started as a typical Saturday night for Danniel, spending time with his family.
“We went to Denver we were just grabbing food and hanging out," said Danniel.
His mom, dad and his little brother got into their vehicle, while he and his little sister drove separately. Their ride home started off with joy and laughter, but quickly took a turn.
“I didn’t know how to react," said Danniel. "Everything stopped."
It was too late for him to stop when he saw a large object lying in the middle of the highway.
“There was couch on the middle of the road," he said. "I was switching lanes trying to avoid the couch, but the left part of my car hit the couch, that made me spin around.”
It caused his car to flip, before catching fire.
“I was like 'Is this a nightmare or is this real' because I just looked at my arm it was full of blood," said Danniel.
Although in pain, he was relieved when he saw his 10-year-old sister lying on the ground with him. It was the moment he knew she was OK.
“I called my mom with a stranger’s phone because my phone was in the car, but my car was on fire," said Danniel.
Looking at the images of his vehicle and replaying the situation over again in his mind, Danniel chooses to look at the brighter side of things.
“I don’t think no-one could survive through that," he said. "It's a miracle that we’re alive and I'm grateful for that.”
He hopes his story shows the importance of securing your loads before getting on the road.
“If a car just drops something he immediately should go pick that thing up," Danniel said. "Not leave it there. Some cars may have enough time to see it and avoid it, but it shouldn't be there. No one should be driving expecting to avoid a couch.”
A Colorado State Patrol spokesperson told FOX31 the crash is still under investigation.
The agency shared these tips about securing loads: Make sure to inspect straps before and after each use. Check for wear and tear. Replace any damaged straps immediately.
The family has set up a Gofundme to help with the medical costs.