YOUR AD HERE »

Craig man dies in accident north of Rifle Tuesday

Sasha Nelson
Dewey Tafoya, 79, of Craig.
Deborah Ciani/Courtesy

A Craig man was one of two drivers who died after a collision on Colorado Highway 13 north of Rifle Tuesday.

Dewey Tafoya, 79, of Craig, was the driver of a pickup truck and Nathan Nazer, 59, of Roosevelt, Utah, was the driver of the tractor trailer, stated a news release from Garfield County Coroner Robert Glassmire.

“He was headed home. He was later than planned and was intent on driving, and I think it was a pure accident,” said Tafoya’s oldest daughter Deborah Ciani.

The two vehicles collided at about 4:30 p.m. on May 16 near mile marker 15 on Highway 13 north of Rifle.

Both men were pronounced dead by coroner investigators on scene. Autopsies were performed and the cause of death is multiple blunt force injuries caused by the accident, Glassmire states in the news release.

Following Tafoya’s wishes he will be cremated and his ashes scattered across the family farm.

“There will be no service. He wanted it to be very private. His family appreciates the thoughts and prays,” Ciani said.

He graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in 1956 before moving to Craig, living in Clark and Oak Creek as well. He helped build the power plant in Craig before retiring young from the Carpenters Union.

Tafoya is preceded in death by his daughter Anita Tafoya and is survived by a large extended family.

“He had a rough life. He lost his daughter. He lost his first wife. But he was as good man,” Ciani said.

The coroner’s office is working with the Colorado State Patrol, Vehicle Crimes Unit, regarding other details of the crash, stated the news release.

Contact Sasha Nelson at 970-875-1794 or snelson@CraigDailyPress.comor follow her on Twitter @CDP_Education.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Craig and Moffat County make the Craig Press’ work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.