Cindy Helms and Melvina Colin die in fatal Columbia crash
Fatal Columbia crash death of Cindy Helms and Melvina Colin – Obituary
Cindy Helms of Rockwood, Tennessee, and Melvina Colin of Broomfield, Colorado, lost their lives in a tragic accident on Monday when a tractor-trailer crossed the median and collided with their U-Haul in Columbia.
According to the Columbia Police Department, Helms, 54, was driving the U-Haul truck eastbound while towing a vehicle, with Colin, 84, as her passenger.
The incident occurred when a tractor-trailer, operated by 26-year-old Walter Montejo of South Gate, California, veered out of control after a collision in the westbound lanes and struck their vehicle head-on in the eastbound lanes.
Following the collision, a fire broke out, leading to a shutdown of eastbound I-70 and parts of westbound I-70 for several hours on Monday. Helms was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries, while Colin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Montejo sustained moderate injuries and was reported to be in good condition on Wednesday, according to a spokesperson from MU Health Care.
Montejo now faces serious legal consequences, with charges of two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, one count of second-degree assault, and a misdemeanor for driving with a revoked license filed against him on Wednesday.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest, and no bond has been set. A court date remains pending.
The probable cause statement reveals that Montejo’s license was suspended due to an active administrative alcohol suspension related to a previous DWI case from Jackson County.
The incident unfolded when Montejo, driving a Freightliner Cascadia, lost control in the westbound passing lane, initially colliding with a BMW, which was forced off the road.
His truck then careened through a concrete barrier, striking multiple vehicles, including a 2017 Toyota Highlander and a 2022 Ram 1500, the latter of which became airborne and overturned upon impact, resulting in serious injuries for its driver.
The tractor-trailer finally collided with a 2021 Ford Explorer before crashing into the U-Haul driven by Helms. Witnesses reportedly told police they had been driving behind the tractor-trailer and BMW, observing that Montejo had signaled a lane change before losing control and overcorrecting.
The probable cause statement further indicates that Montejo is in the United States on a work visa. The U.S. Department of Transportation records show that the truck was registered to FDH Trucking, LLC, with an address in Saline County.
Fatal Columbia crash death of Cindy Helms and Melvina Colin – Obituary Cindy Helms of Rockwood, Tennessee, and Melvina Colin of Broomfield, Colorado, lost their lives in a tragic accident on Monday when a tractor-trailer crossed the median and collided with their U-Haul in Columbia. According to the Columbia Police Department, Helms, 54, was driving…
Fatal Columbia crash death of Cindy Helms and Melvina Colin – Obituary Cindy Helms of Rockwood, Tennessee, and Melvina Colin of Broomfield, Colorado, lost their lives in a tragic accident on Monday when a tractor-trailer crossed the median and collided with their U-Haul in Columbia. According to the Columbia Police Department, Helms, 54, was driving…