October 7, 2024
Kent Keller, PIO
Greeley Police Department
970.350.9605, Front Desk
[email protected]
GREELEY, Colo. – On Friday, October 4, 2024, at 6:37 AM, Greeley Police Officer, Greeley Fire Fighters, Medics, and other first responders were dispatched to a serious two-vehicle accident on Highway 34, near Highway 257. Upon arrival, first responders found that four adult men had been ejected from the truck after it had rolled several times.
Multiple ambulances were summoned to the scene for a total of five injured occupants with injuries ranging from serious to fatal. Two of the passengers were pronounced deceased a short time later. The two surviving ejected passengers, both adult men, remain in the hospital with serious life-threatening injuries. Law enforcement officers are still working to positively identify the deceased and surviving passengers and notify their families. Until we are positive of their identities, and their loved ones have been notified, we will not release any names publicly. Highway 34 westbound was shut down for several hours while the Greeley Police Traffic Unit investigated.
The driver of truck, Hector Castaneda Lopez, 48, was not ejected during the accident. He was also briefly admitted to a local hospital. Since the accident, officers have been working diligently and have developed probable cause for the arrest of Castaneda Lopez. On Saturday, October 5, Castaneda Lopez was arrested in Loveland, Colorado after being cleared from the hospital and was transported to the Weld County Jail.
Hector Castaneda Lopez was charged two counts of Vehicular Homicide and two counts of Vehicular Assault, both are felonies. He was booked into the jail and has since been released. It appears that excessive speed, dangerous driving, and unrestrained occupants were contributing factors to the accident and injuries. Any additional questions reference this case should be directed to the Weld County District Attorney’s Office.
Our condolences go to the family and friends of the men that lost their lives and were injured in this incident. We also wish to extend our gratitude to all of the motorists that stopped to check on the accident victims, called 911, and otherwise helped our officers and other first responders to provide the most efficient and compassionate care we were able to.
If you have any information about this accident and have not yet spoken with officers, please call the Greeley Police Department Traffic Unit at 970-350-9605
