Fort Collins man charged in deadly crash; drugs suspected

LARIMER COUNTY - A Fort Collins man is in the Larimer County Jail, charged with vehicular homicide for his role in a fatal crash on U.S. Highway 287 Saturday morning.

The crash happened shortly after 10 a.m. near milepost 351 on U.S. 287, which is about a mile northwest of the intersection of U.S. 287 and Larimer County Road 54G.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, 20-year-old Gregory Nessler of Fort Collins was driving a Chevrolet Avalanche southbound on U.S. 287 when he veered into the northbound lane, hitting a northbound Toyota Camry nearly head-on. The Avalanche rolled onto its left side. The Camry went off the southbound side of the road and came to rest facing north.

The Larimer County Coroner pronounced the passenger of the Camry, 28-year-old Christopher Douglas of Lisbon, Maine, dead at the scene. The driver of the Camry, 24-year-old Amy White of Denver, was taken to Poudre Valley Hospital with serious injuries.

Nessler and his passenger, 20-year-old Tyler Santomaso of Fort Collins, were taken to Poudre Valley Hospital with minor injuries.

The Colorado State Patrol believes Nessler may have used drugs prior to the accident.

Nessler was arrested and booked into the Larimer County Jail on charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, driving under the influence of a drug and careless driving causing injury.