GRAND JUNCTION, CO — The Mesa County Coroner’s Office has identified the driver who died following a high speed crash on Ute Avenue last week.
Gunnar Stuehrk, a 25-year-old resident of Grand Junction, succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a local hospital. According to a media release from the coroner’s office, Stuehrk’s death was caused by extensive injuries he received when his vehicle left the roadway and hit a tree near the intersection of 11th Street and Ute Avenue.
The crash originally occurred late in the morning on July 24. First responders arrived after 911 dispatchers received reports of two vehicles traveling westbound at a high rate of speed. The vehicles reportedly lost control while possibly racing.
In a recent update, the Grand Junction Police Department stated that speed is believed to be a primary contributing factor in the incident. Authorities emphasized that serious crash investigations are complex and require time to thoroughly examine all available evidence. The investigation remains ongoing.
Photos by Grand Junction Police Department