Driver in fatal crash off edge of Million Dollar Highway had excessive marijuana in system

The driver who died after rolling his car off the Million Dollar Highway and down a mountain last month had nearly times the legal limit of marijuana in his system according to a toxicology review distributed Wednesday Louis Michael died from blunt-force injuries to the neck according to his autopsy analysis disclosed by Ouray County representatives His visitor -year-old Leoba Valdez also died from blunt-force injuries including a brain bleed and fractures to the skull ribs arms and legs When he died Michael had roughly nanograms per milliliter of Delta THC in his blood the overview stated The legal limit in Colorado for driving is less than five nanograms per milliliter according to the Colorado Department of Transportation That puts the amount of marijuana in Michael s system at times the legal limit Michael was reversing a Honda Civic in the westbound lane of U S on Red Mountain Pass also known as the Million Dollar Highway when the right rear tire went over the edge of the road Colorado State Patrol spokesperson Gabriel Moltrer revealed The Honda Civic continued off the cliff and rolled roughly feet down the mountain It came to rest upside down in Red Mountain Creek Moltrer noted The crash happened at about a m on Aug near mile marker on westbound U S There are no guardrails along the edge of the highway Related Articles Southbound I- reopens in Denver after crews clear flipped construction equipment Driver killed by rogue tire in crash on southbound I- in Lone Tree killed injured in Denver hit-and-run crashes since Saturday High-speed motorist loses control of BMW in Arapahoe County lands upside-down between horse trailers dead injured after planes collide midair at northern Colorado airport Both Michael and Valdez were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash Valdez had no drugs in her system according to her autopsy analysis State patrol authorities noted an unidentified girl was trapped inside the car with both adults for more than two hours before urgency crews were able to rappel down the mountain and rescue her She was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries Drivers can be arrested and cited for impaired driving if law enforcement observes driver impairment to any degree even with a blood level of Delta THC below five nanograms per milliliter according to the state transportation department However five nanograms per milliliter is the legal limit that gives rise to a permissible inference that the person is under the influence of cannabis according to the department Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day